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The article presents tips on teaching music students how to practice for a performance. Topics covered include strategies that instill attention to detail and develop problem-solving skills, ways to organize practice and opportunities for students to learn how to divide a piece. Also mentioned are the uses of a practice bite to address problems in practicing.

The author focuses on the issue of how the economic crisis affects independent music teachers and shares her advice on how to cope with the possibility of a decreasing clientele. She says that it is important for teachers to help parents understand and appreciate their children's music education because they are the ones who need to prioritize expenses. This can be done by regularly sending them progress reports to let them know how students are improving, what techniques they need to refine when practicing at home and what type of progress to expect.

The author deplores the method of music teaching that overemphasizes caution and security that lead not only to lifeless performance but also to an anxious and timid approach to music. He observes that this approach restrains students from reaching for the miracles of music and making them content with just the superficial. The author does not condone reckless practicing in any way, but he believes that by inculcating a "can do" attitude, students can play music with the spirit of adventure that it requires.

The article emphasizes the importance of teaching piano students the basics of practicing. The author states that the lessons given by music teachers will be exercises in futility and frustration if they will not teach their students the basic training of teaching themselves. Throuh teaching the students the basics of practicing, they will be focused, motivated, and satisfied with their progress.