Don’t Let the Break Break the Habit: Holiday Music Learning Strategies
Jennifer Garner talking about the importance of practise.
What happens when the school bags go into storage and routines fall away? For many students, music learning slips off the radar—right when their brains are primed to consolidate progress.
It’s tempting to let practise go completely during the holidays. And yes, students need rest. But here’s what the research says: consistency matters. Even short, regular bursts of music learning help reinforce neural pathways. In fact, mental practice—imagining playing, reviewing music in your head, or actively listening—can activate similar brain regions to physical playing. It’s a powerful, underused tool during breaks.
So how can we keep the music alive without overwhelming students or families?
1. Travel Practise Kit: Just 10 Minutes, 3 Times a Week
Think of this as your travel-size music kit. Like a little carry-on for your musical brain and body. The Travel Practise Kit is all about staying connected to your skills—even if you’re on holidays, away from your instrument, or just having a slow day.
Encourage students to aim for just 10 minutes, three times a week. These short bursts are enough to keep technique fresh and musical thinking active.
Here’s how it works, with instrument-specific ideas:
Woodwind players can use a pencil as a stand-in for their instrument. They can practise fingerings, air direction, and tonguing silently—great for keeping the feel of playing alive.
Brass players can pack their mouthpieces and do buzzing exercises. Even buzzing into a towel or pillow can keep tone production going without disturbing anyone.
Pianists can print or draw a paper keyboard and “play” on a tabletop. Visualising the music and practising hand shapes helps retain finger memory.
String players can shadow bow in the air or finger their music on a flat surface, using a pencil as a pretend bow if needed.
Everyone can take their sheet music or notebook and do silent mental practise: fingerings, phrasing, or reviewing musical markings.
The goal isn’t to keep up full-scale practise. It’s to keep a sense of playing, and return after the break without feeling like you’re starting from scratch.
2. Listening Challenge: One Track, Three Creative Paths
Keep your students’ ears open and imaginations active with a weekly Listening Challenge. As the teacher, you choose one piece of music each week and send it out via email, text, or your learning platform. Each track should be something fresh—maybe a different genre, artist, or musical tradition than students usually hear.
Think jazz, film score, lo-fi, orchestral, folk, experimental, or traditional music from around the world. The goal is simple: listen, feel, and respond.
Each week, students get the track plus one or more of these creative challenges:
Describe how it makes you feel using three words or a short phrase – a quick way to tune into emotional responses.
Draw or describe a scene – imagine it as a movie soundtrack. What’s happening in the scene? Who’s involved?
Describe the video game moment – where would this music fit in a game? A battle, a reveal, a moment of discovery?
This kind of listening builds emotional connection, curiosity, and musical insight—all without the need to play a note.
And for a little inspiration?
Share real stories that remind students practice doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be consistent. We have shared a video of Jennifer Garner reflecting on the value of practise in her own life. It’s a powerful companion to our Wanna Be Like digital series, which highlights 29 well-known people—like Serena Williams and Charles Leclerc—who’ve kept music learning close, no matter where life took them.
The break is a chance to recharge, but it can also be a time to reset. With the right support, students can head into the new term refreshed, confident, and still connected to their musical selves.
For more tools and inspiration to support holiday practice, motivation, and parent communication, visit our shop and explore ready-to-use resources designed for music educators below.