Arrange face-to-face meetings on a regular basis. This will hold the learner accountable for her progress and enable her to address the common mistakes that beginners make. When reading music, making one error inevitably results in several others. Students who improperly label their instrument's keys, for example, may base future learning on this error. Additionally, hearing a professional play music and observing his techniques will link isolated aspects of the learning process.
Identify and explain basic musical terminology. Because there is a plethora of musical terms, start with only the essential terms and concepts like clef, staff, key and time signature, rests and succession. Maintaining simplicity will prevent the student from misunderstanding fundamental concepts and mixing up symbols, which is a common mistake among beginning music students.
Implement visual aides. Unless you are an expert, reading sheet music for prolonged periods of time and comprehending what you see has the potential to be extremely disorienting. Draw a blown-up staff on a piece of poster board and illustrate the significance of each symbol. Use a whiteboard to easily correct mistakes and save resources.
Assign daily warm-up activities that demand comprehension of basic musical concepts. A workbook that ties together the isolated symbols that make up sheet music is essential for all serious learners. Additionally, an adult's tendency to forget things due to stress and busy schedules makes daily assignments especially beneficial. Keeping a tangible record of a student's activities will provide her with a sense of accomplishment and give her the incentive to continue studying.
Use mnemonic devices. The most popular memory aides are the famous "Every Good Boy Does Fine" and "F.A.C.E." You can also allow the learner to create his own; this will heighten his interest in learning the content and increase the likelihood that he will remember it.