Practice Buddies: Our New YouTube Series is Ready for You!

Hi Everyone!

So here’s the thing: practicing at home can be tough. For kids. For parents. For adults with jobs, brains full of tabs, and a metronome that somehow feels judgmental.

Some days you sit down and it’s great. Other days it’s: “Wait… what am I supposed to do again?” Or “Can you help me?” (from your kid) or “Can someone help me?” (from your inner monologue).

The good news? We’re building practice resources that make home sessions way easier. Less guesswork. More “press play and go.”

Just press play, follow along, and actually get better.

Meet Your New Practice Resource: Our YouTube “Practice-Along” Series

Log onto www.youtube.com/@CojaMusicAcademy and you’ll find our shiny new home for practice resources.

Right now, we’re kicking things off with a super practical “practice-along” tool: our Major Scale Practice Series. These videos take the guesswork out of scale practice. You get the tempo. You get the visual cues. You get the routine. You just play.

Start here: Major Scale Practice – Right Hand (Playlist)
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ4kJsKhPKweC4RalySLPrCWoXo4VzirW

Plus, we also have a Left Hand version so students can master both sides (and keep the “my right hand is great but my left hand is… feelings” situation under control).

Think of these playlists as your digital practice buddies. They help students keep their technique sharp between lessons, without needing a parent (or an adult student) to reinvent a practice plan every week.

These resources are especially perfect for our piano and keyboard students. And yep, they’re built for both parents helping kids and adult students doing their own thing.

They’re perfect for:

• Kids who need structure during practice time (because “go practice” is not a plan)
• Parents who want to help without becoming the music teacher
• Adult beginners who want a clear routine and a confidence boost
• Anyone who’s ever wondered “Wait… am I doing this right?”

Practice Resources 101: Why This Stuff Works

Look, we get it. Practice isn’t always thrilling. Nobody dreams of repeating the same thing while the fun songs sit there like, “Hey… remember me?”

But consistent, simple practice is the foundation of literally everything you want to do: play songs, sing with control, switch chords faster, keep time, and feel confident.

Practice resources help because they give you:

• A clear plan (no more “what do I do first?”)
• A steady tempo (so you’re not accidentally speed-running your scales)
• Repeatable wins (small improvements you can actually feel)

Plus, when home practice is smoother, lessons get way more fun. Everyone wins.

How to Use These Practice Resources (Without Losing Your Mind)

Here’s how it works. Log onto www.youtube.com/@CojaMusicAcademy and find the Major Scale Practice video that matches where you’re at. They’re organized by key and tempo, so you can start slow and level up.

For Parents (No Music Degree Required):

• Press play. That’s your job. The video provides the tempo and the plan.
• Keep it short. 5–10 minutes of focused practice beats 30 minutes of arguing.
• Use the “two reps then done” rule. Two good play-throughs with attention. Then move on.
• Praise effort, not perfection. “Nice focus” and “good job staying with the tempo” goes way further than “you missed a note.”
• Ask one simple question: “Do you want me to listen, or do you want privacy?” (Both are valid.)
• If they get stuck, hit pause and write it down. Then bring the question to the next lesson. You’re not supposed to solve everything at home.

For Adult Students:

• Set a timer for 10–15 minutes.
• Pick one video.
• Start slower than you think you need.
• Repeat it a couple times. Then call it a win.

For Our Current COJA Students:
Your instructor may reference these videos and point you to specific keys/tempos. They’re meant to complement your lessons, not replace them. Think of them as your between-lesson practice buddy.

The beauty of a practice-along video? You’re never alone in the practice room. There’s a steady tempo, clear guidance, and you can replay it as many times as you need. No shame in hitting replay 47 times. We’ve all been there.

What’s Coming Next (More Practice Help, Less Guessing)

Right now, the channel features our Major Scale Practice series, but we’re just getting started. After many hours of editing and refining, we’ve got big plans to expand this into a full practice resource library for students at every level.

Coming soon:

• More practice-along videos (more keys, more tempos, more options)
• Minor scale practice videos (because major scales are just the beginning)
• Chord and harmony practice (super helpful for guitar and piano)
• Rhythm and timing exercises (for literally everyone)
• Technique and performance tips straight from our instructors

We’re basically building a practice toolkit that makes home sessions less “ugh, I guess I have to” and more “okay, I can actually do this.” Plus, if there’s something specific you want, leave a comment on a video and tell us.

Plus, if there’s something specific you’d love to see on the channel, leave a comment on one of our videos. We’re all ears (literally: we’re musicians, that’s kind of our thing).

Why YouTube? Why Now?

Honestly, we’ve been wanting to do this for a while. Over the years, we’ve noticed that students who practice consistently between lessons progress way faster than those who just show up once a week. Makes sense, right?

But here’s the catch: home practice can be confusing. Especially at the beginning. You’re not sure if you’re doing it correctly. You don’t know what tempo to use. Your kid gets frustrated. You get frustrated. An adult student gets busy and suddenly it’s been… a week.

These YouTube practice resources solve that problem. They give structure, guidance, and instant clarity. If you can’t keep up with the video, you know to slow down. If you can, you know you’re on track.

Plus, it’s easy to access for everyone at COJA Music Academy: piano students, guitar students, singing students, in-person or remote. It’s free and it’s always there when you need it.

Subscribe and Stay Tuned

Here’s the thing: we’re going to keep adding more practice resources to this channel. New series, new topics, new ways to make home practice simpler for parents and more motivating for students (including the fully-grown students, we see you).

So check out www.youtube.com/@CojaMusicAcademy. Subscribe if it’s helpful. Try a few videos this week. Leave comments if you want a specific practice-along next.

And if you’re a parent: pull it up during practice time and let the video be the “coach.” You get to be the supportive manager. That’s the dream.

More resources are on the way. See you soon.

Coja