Don’t you just LOVE free resources!? Especially when they’re for your kids?? This resource is going to be the “glue” that really makes Tin Whistle Studies come alive and “work” no matter how old you are starting tin whistle practice. It is the perfect companion for Tin Whistle Studies: Book One, but will also be able to be used alongside Book Two and so on, as available in my shop. So, I thought I’d write a QUICK blog post about a little more behind the why of this book, both as a reason to “purchase” the practice book for $0.00 and to purchase any of the Tin Whistle Studies.
Setting goals, being clear about boundaries, creating a predictable routine. These are all super important lessons in a young child’s life. The clearer we are up front about a situation or task, the easier they will be able to accomplish it and the more confident they will grow in setting bigger goals or taking more detailed directions. “Start small and slowly get faster” or in this case “Start small and slowly increase your goals.” That was a HUGE lesson I learned from Gary Scudder. And it’s true. By setting really small, easy goals a task becomes SO easy it’s fun and it’s almost hard not to complete. The joy of accomplishing your goals makes you want to set more goals and bigger goals (SLOWLY) so that you can experience even greater joy!
This book is simple. It’s a book full of charts. Usable charts. You can print just one chart and place it in a sheet protector and mark off with a marker to save ink and paper, but I would definitely recommend printing the entire thing and punching with a 3-hole punch and placing it in a separate binder to accompany Tin Whistle Studies for your child. That way a child can show you after every day or at the end of the week all the tasks they completed (and still working on that integrity too!). They can visually see their progress over time and be excited about creating big goals. Sometimes goal will ebb and flow with circumstances in life like mom having a new baby or moving or sickness etc, but the goal is definitely to stay steady, remain steadfast, and “run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1)…OH LOOK! Another goal and character being developed through tin whistle: endurance, faithfulness, steadfastness. Wow! The list grows! Already time for an update on the original ideas 😉
Simply write down your goals and check off (or, as 5 year olds may not be able to “check” something yet, mark an X or the initial of their first name or smiley face etc.) each task each day. That’s it. Refer to The Three Levels of Practice in the front of the book and the How to Practice reminders at the end of book as needed. Glance at your goals and adjust as needed throughout the year, but keep working toward achieving or even surpassing them!
That’s it! Print as many books needed for as many children needed again and again and enjoy!