Learning to Play Music? Practice Makes Perfect !

So you bring home your music lesson from the teacher, but you can't remember everything that was said during the lesson. Certainly, there is, or should be, a lesson plan for the next week to let you know what to work on. OK, I have to work on this scale and this arpeggio, or this other exercise. Then I see here that I have two or, perhaps, three songs or pieces to work on for the week. You say to yourself, alright, and go about your chores or your homework, etc. and later on, maybe the following day, you get around to your lesson plan.

At this point most of what was said during the initial lesson is forgotten. I realize that no one is capable of remembering everything and, because we see and hear so much in any given day, it is impossible to recall what is said in a 30 to 45 minute time period. So how do I go about practicing the music?

How we practice determines how we will inevitably perform the piece regardless of the level you are on. Most students will start from the beginning of a piece
and struggle to get through to the end of the piece. This approach can sometimes work fine, although it usually results in a performance that is very good
initially, but then deteriorates toward the end of the piece. If you are playing a piece that is more than two pages in length, your concentration can easily wane after that second page. In order to overcome this fact, you need to alter your approach toward the initial stages of practice.

Here are some helpful suggestions:

Bring a notebook to the lesson.
Use the notes to refresh your memory.
Carefully study the new piece you are about to work on.
What is the Key Signature?
What is the Time Signature?
What Note Values are being used in the left hand?
Which hand has more movement involved?
How long are the Phrases?
What is the overall feel of this piece?
Am I in the proper position on the bench?
Are my arms parallel to the keys and do I have good posture?
Do I have enough distance between my body and the keyboard?