In the soft light of a late afternoon, for a 14‑year‑old, we arrange practice like a small banquet: a warm technical amuse‑bouche, a generous main course of pieces, and a curious, sweet dessert. Piano (45–60 minutes, 4–5× weekly): begin with breathing, posture, then Faber Piano Adventures ACE warm‑ups; work Randall Faber’s Hanon‑Faber etudes for technique, 10–15 minutes; scale and arpeggio rotation; repertoire study from the ACE curriculum—phrasing, shaping, dynamic spice; 10 minutes sight‑reading and 5 minutes theory or rhythm games.
Violin (20–30 minutes, 3–4× weekly): Jamie Chimchirian Book 1 and video lessons—bow‑hold, open‑string tone, slow intonation drills, simple melodies, short bonus etude to build confidence. Enrichment (weekly): TeachRock module or Musical Ratios exploration to connect history and math of music; Raven Lite sessions for focused ear training through bird song listening. Goals: one measurable weekly target, a short recording or mini‑recital, and a reflective practice log. Gentle reminders: savor each phrase, celebrate small victories, and keep curiosity the ever‑present seasoning.
Schedule occasional cello? No. Instead, sprinkle improvisation and composition prompts — five minutes of free invention after practice, a playlist of admired performers, and fortnightly teacher feedback to stir progress, tenderness, and delicious musical appetite, and celebrate every small triumph.