One question I ask a lot before closing out a lesson is "Are there any notes you need to write for yourself to be able to practice this week?" Some students are determined they don't need to. Others want to write down every note possible...even beyond what they actually need. So, here are some guidelines I give students for when to write notes for themselves.
1) If you have to stop and think to figure out what a note is...and you're still not sure. Especially if a note is new to them or they have played the wrong one more than once in the lesson, it's a good idea to write the name of the note or the finger number in (finger number if they know the note, but the hand is in a different position than they are used to).
2) If it is way outside of the pattern and you didn't notice. For example, if a song is all seconds and thirds, then suddenly there is a sixth and you didn't catch it, make some kind of note to yourself so you notice the difference in practice.
3) If it is ALMOST the same pattern as before. Mark the differences between patterns in a song. If they rhythm is different or the notes change at the end. Do what you have to to make sure that you don't go on auto pilot and repeat a phrase that is almost the same but isn't really.
4) If you keep playing it wrong in practice. If you are consistently playing something wrong in practice, write in a note for yourself...the name of the correct note, the finger number, or just circle it so you pay more attention to what it says there.
The more I ask certain students if there are any notes they need to write to themselves so they can handle the song on their own, the more skill they gain in determining what will help them in practice and that helps them be more independent, even if I tell them to write in a few more notes than they would have on their own.
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