Lisa Goethe-McGinn ~ flutist & teacher
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Live for music - great article from 2 Jazz Masters

2/15/2018

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From Live For Live Music - 2016 article
Herbie Hancock And Wayne Shorter Share Open Letter To The Next Generation Of Artists
admin | Tuesday, March 8th, 2016
With the recent formation of Mega Nova, the Santana-led supergroup provided an opportunity for Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock to work together again. The two have been musicians for decades, and friends for a majority of their lengthy, prolific careers. Starting with roles in Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet, the two are true innovators.
All of that in mind, Nest HQ decided to ask the two to share their thoughts about what it means to be an artist, and how artists should create in an ever-conflicted world. Read their open letter below:
To the Next Generation of Artists,
We find ourselves in turbulent and unpredictable times.
From the horror at the Bataclan, to the upheaval in Syria and the senseless bloodshed in San Bernardino, we live in a time of great confusion and pain. As an artist, creator and dreamer of this world, we ask you not to be discouraged by what you see but to use your own lives, and by extension your art, as vehicles for the construction of peace.
While it’s true that the issues facing the world are complex, the answer to peace is simple; it begins with you. You don’t have to be living in a third world country or working for an NGO to make a difference. Each of us has a unique mission. We are all pieces in a giant, fluid puzzle, where the smallest of actions by one puzzle piece profoundly affects each of the others. You matter, your actions matter, your art matters.
We’d like to be clear that while this letter is written with an artistic audience in mind, these thoughts transcend professional boundaries and apply to all people, regardless of profession.
FIRST, AWAKEN TO YOUR HUMANITY
We are not alone. We do not exist alone and we cannot create alone. What this world needs is a humanistic awakening of the desire to raise one’s life condition to a place where our actions are rooted in altruism and compassion. You cannot hide behind a profession or instrument; you have to be human. Focus your energy on becoming the best human you can be. Focus on developing empathy and compassion. Through the process you’ll tap into a wealth of inspiration rooted in the complexity and curiosity of what it means to simply exist on this planet. Music is but a drop in the ocean of life.
EMBRACE AND CONQUER THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
The world needs new pathways. Don’t allow yourself to be hijacked by common rhetoric, or false beliefs and illusions about how life should be lived. It’s up to you to be the pioneers. Whether through the exploration of new sounds, rhythms, and harmonies or unexpected collaborations, processes and experiences, we encourage you to dispel repetition in all of its negative forms and consequences. Strive to create new actions both musically and with the pathway of your life. Never conform.
WELCOME THE UNKNOWN
The unknown necessitates a moment-to-moment improvisation or creative process that is unparalleled in potential and fulfillment. There is no dress rehearsal for life because life, itself, is the real rehearsal. Every relationship, obstacle, interaction, etc. is a rehearsal for the next adventure in life. Everything is connected. Everything builds. Nothing is ever wasted. This type of thinking requires courage. Be courageous and do not lose your sense of exhilaration and reverence for this wonderful world around you.
UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF OBSTACLES
We have this idea of failure, but it’s not real; it’s an illusion. There is no such thing as failure. What you perceive as failure is really a new opportunity, a new hand of cards, or a new canvas to create upon. In life there are unlimited opportunities. The words, “success” and “failure”, themselves, are nothing more than labels. Every moment is an opportunity. You, as a human being, have no limits; therefore infinite possibilities exist in any circumstance.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO INTERACT WITH THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU
The world needs more one-on-one interaction among people of diverse origins with a greater emphasis on art, culture and education. Our differences are what we have in common. We can work to create an open and continuous plane where all types of people can exchange ideas, resources, thoughtfulness and kindness. We need to be connecting with one another, learning about one another, and experiencing life with one another. We can never have peace if we cannot understand the pain in each other’s hearts. The more we interact, the more we will come to realize that our humanity transcends all differences.
STRIVE TO CREATE AGENDA-FREE DIALOGUE
Art in any form is a medium for dialogue, which is a powerful tool. It is time for the music world to produce sound stories that ignite dialogue about the mystery of us. When we say the mystery of us, we’re talking about reflecting and challenging the fears, which prevent us from discovering our unlimited access to the courage inherent in us all. Yes, you are enough. Yes, you matter. Yes, you should keep going.
BE WARY OF EGO
Arrogance can develop within artists, either from artists who believe that their status makes them more important, or those whose association with a creative field entitles them to some sort of superiority. Beware of ego; creativity cannot flow when only the ego is served.
WORK TOWARDS A BUSINESS WITHOUT BORDERS
The medical field has an organization called Doctors Without Borders. This lofty effort can serve as a model for transcending the limitations and strategies of old business formulas which are designed to perpetuate old systems in the guise of new ones. We’re speaking directly to a system that’s in place, a system that conditions consumers to purchase only the products that are dictated to be deemed marketable, a system where money is only the means to an end. The music business is a fraction of the business of life. Living with creative integrity can bring forth benefits never imagined.
APPRECIATE THE GENERATION THAT WALKED BEFORE YOU
Your elders can help you. They are a source of wealth in the form of wisdom. They have weathered storms and endured the same heartbreaks; let their struggles be the light that shines the way in the darkness. Don’t waste time repeating their mistakes. Instead, take what they’ve done and catapult you towards building a progressively better world for the progeny to come.
LASTLY, WE HOPE THAT YOU LIVE IN A STATE OF CONSTANT WONDER
As we accumulate years, parts of our imagination tend to dull. Whether from sadness, prolonged struggle, or social conditioning, somewhere along the way people forget how to tap into the inherent magic that exists within our minds. Don’t let that part of your imagination fade away. Look up at the stars and imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut or a pilot. Imagine exploring the pyramids or Machu Picchu. Imagine flying like a bird or crashing through a wall like Superman. Imagine running with dinosaurs or swimming like mer-creatures. All that exists is a product of someone’s imagination; treasure and nurture yours and you’ll always find yourself on the precipice of discovery.
How does any of this lend to the creation of a peaceful society you ask? It begins with a cause. Your causes create the effects that shape your future and the future of all those around you. Be the leaders in the movie of your life. You are the director, producer, and actor. Be bold and tirelessly compassionate as you dance through the voyage that is this lifetime.

If you enjoyed this, check out their interview in National Geographic!
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/03/star-talk-herbie-hancock-wayne-shorter/
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Inspiration...!

4/7/2016

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I'm always looking for inspiration - ALWAYS!!!  So why not from a rock star or from a tattoo artist (more on that in another post)!

And yes, I'm on a roll.  2 posts in 2 days!  Am I inspired or what?!
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Rollercoaster music!

4/6/2016

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Remembering your beginnings...

4/16/2015

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Remember when you first started your instrument??  Was it hard?  Did you know what to do with it?  How to play it?  Where do you blow?  Where do you put your fingers?
When learning new skills, new music, new everything remember it wasn't easy to start in the first place so keep at it as you will get it with work.  Famed flutist said it best,  "If it's worth doing it's worth doing well."


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Nurturing Our Children

4/30/2014

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Hi all!  It has been awhile.  Nothing like the busy-ness of Spring!  Here is a wonderful article about nurturing our children in anything they do, not only in music.  Enjoy!

Five Ways to Nurture Talent (Without Being a Psyco Parent), by Daniel Coyle.  He has a wonderful book out called, "The Little Book of Talent."  

Pop quiz for parents: When you see the word wisdom, which of the following people come to mind:

A) Socrates
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) Oprah Winfrey
D) Yourself

Whatever answer you chose, it was probably not (D). Because the truth is, being a parent these days does not make you feel very wise. In fact, it's the reverse: modern parenting seems explicitly designed to prevent wisdom, especially when it comes to nurturing the talents of your kids.

In the last few decades, talent-nurturing has been transformed into the equivalent of anIron Chef competition, in which parents frantically assemble ingredients while the clock ominously ticks. Tiger Mothers and Fathers stalk the landscape, carrying their superstar cubs in their mouths. Soccer, violin, chess, math, art, academics -- they're not activities so much as readymade funnels down which you can pour massive amounts of time, money, and anxiety.

All of which adds up to a question: is there a wiser way to navigate this world? It's the sort of question Arianna Huffington addresses in the pages of her new book Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder(which is terrific, by the way).

As it happens, I've spent the last seven years visiting and studying talent hotbeds in sports, art, music, and math, and also being the dad of four kids (12-18). Over the last few years my wife Jen and I have come up with a simple list of principles that have helped around our house, a few of which I'd like to share with you.

Don't: Fall for the Prodigy Myth.

Do: Reframe struggle as positive.

Why: Yes, different kids learn at different rates. Yes, some kids take off like rockets; others linger in the middle of the bell curve. The thing to remember: this isn't a sprint. The majority of prodigies flame out, and the majority of successful people come from the anonymous ranks of average Joes and Josephines.

What helps is to understand that the moments of intense struggle are really the moments when learning happens fastest. Those moments aren't pretty -- it's when a kid is reaching toward something new and missing -- but they're fantastically productive because it's when the brain is making and honing new connections. Your job is to find ways to celebrate those moments of struggle.

Don't: Pay too much attention to what your kid says.

Do: Pay lots of attention to what your kid stares at.

Why: Let's do this one in the form of a scene, in which a kid returns from their very first soccer/piano/karate practice.

PARENT: So how was it? How did it go? Did you like your teacher? What did you do?

KID: Ummmmm.

PARENT: Was it fun? Were you good at it? Do you think you'll do it next week?

KID: Ummmmm.

The point is, most kids are reliably inept at expressing their inner feelings. So don't put too much pressure on them to express those feelings, because it tends to speedily diminish whatever interest they might've felt.

Instead, pay attention to what they stare at. Staring is the most profound act of communication that kids perform. Staring is like a neon sign saying I LOVE THIS. Watch for the stare, and follow where it leads. One of our daughters got interested in violin because we went to a performance of a teenage bluegrass band. She stared. We didn't say much. We borrowed a violin, and took her to a lesson, and she was into it. That was five years ago; she's still playing.

Don't: Seek a coach or teacher who's like a courteous waiter.

Do: Seek coaches and teachers who scare you just a little.

Why: It's easy to confuse pleasure and comfort with actual learning. But truly good coaches and teachers are about challenging you to get to the edge of your abilities, time and time again. Seek out coaches who know their stuff, and who are not afraid to take charge of the process. A little scary is good.

Don't: Celebrate victories.

Do: Celebrate repetition.

Why: Too many kids (and parents) judge their progress by the scoreboard, instead of by the amount they've learned. Victories are their own reward. They do not need any extra emphasis.

Celebrating repetition, on the other hand, is not done often enough, because repetition has a bad reputation. We instinctively connote it with drudgery. In fact, repetition is awesome. It's the single most powerful way the brain builds new skill circuits. So make it cool. Doing a hard task ten times in a row is great. Doing it a hundred times in a row is freaking heroic. So treat it that way

Don't: Spend the car-ride home trying to give constructive advice

Do: Remember the six-word phrase that matters most

For three decades, coaching experts Rob Miller and Bruce E. Brown made a habit of asking college-age athletes about the ways their parents had made a positive and/or negative impact on their development. After several hundred interviews, their informal survey hit upon two discoveries.

Number one: what kids hate most, by an overwhelming margin, is the conversations during the ride home after the game. You know, that quiet, strained, slightly uncomfortable time when parents ask questions, give praise, offer critiques, and generally get involved by saying things like:

So what happened on that last play?

What did your coach tell the team after the game?

Do you think the team could have hustled more?

These types of moments are well intentioned, and often contain truth, but the timing is toxic. The moments after a game are not the time for judgement or pressure and definitely not for instruction (which is the job of the coach, not the parent). In fact, many of the kids said they preferred having grandparents attend games, because they are more joyful and less pressurizing than parents.

But it's not all bad news. Because there's a second finding to emerge from their work, and it might be the wisest parenting tip I've ever read.

The kids reported there was one phrase spoken by parents that brought them happiness. One simple sentence that made them feel joyful, confident, and fulfilled. Just six words.

I love to watch you play.

That's it. Six words that are the essence of parental wisdom. Because they reframe your relationship; they nudge you away from being the ferry driver and the planner and toward something simpler and wiser: a parent.

I love to watch you play.

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Thumbs up to practice (and Rock and Roll and to learning to ride a bike)!

1/22/2014

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Couldn't resist this YouTube video.  From the mouth of babes...

This really reminds me that learning is so much fun and continuous.  How cool it is to see such excitement!  What a great feeling to see others get that excited or even to experience it yourself!
(thanks to Zara Lawler for showing me this video)


...a little YouTube addendum to the previous blog (see below).  Enjoy the music. 
AND remember musicians can be Astronauts that perform duets with Rock Stars from space to earth!

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High Achievers & Musical Study

1/9/2014

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HAPPY 2014 and HAPPY PRACTICING!!

I ran across this great article and hope you enjoy it.  Definitely an easy blog for me so more from me later. 

*There are many famous people that studied music that Ms. Lipman does not mention in this article.  Albert Einstein is one - he studied violin and piano and enjoyed playing through out his entire life!

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By JOANNE LIPMAN

CONDOLEEZZA RICE trained to be a concert pianist. Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was a professional clarinet and saxophone player. The hedge fund billionaire Bruce Kovner is a pianist who took classes at Juilliard.

Multiple studies link music study to academic achievement. But what is it about serious music training that seems to correlate with outsize success in other fields?

The connection isn't a coincidence. I know because I asked. I put the question to top-flight professionals in industries from tech to finance to media, all of whom had serious (if often little-known) past lives as musicians. Almost all made a connection between their music training and their professional achievements.

The phenomenon extends beyond the math-music association. Strikingly, many high achievers told me music opened up the pathways to creative thinking. And their experiences suggest that music training sharpens other qualities: Collaboration. The ability to listen. A way of thinking that weaves together disparate ideas. The power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously.

Will your school music program turn your kid into a Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft (guitar)? Or a Woody Allen (clarinet)? Probably not. These are singular achievers. But the way these and other visionaries I spoke to process music is intriguing. As is the way many of them apply music's lessons of focus and discipline into new ways of thinking and communicating - even problem solving.

Look carefully and you'll find musicians at the top of almost any industry. Woody Allen performs weekly with a jazz band. The television broadcaster Paula Zahn (cello) and the NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd (French horn) attended college on music scholarships; NBC's Andrea Mitchell trained to become a professional violinist. Both Microsoft's Mr. Allen and the venture capitalist Roger McNamee have rock bands. Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, played saxophone in high school. Steven Spielberg is a clarinetist and son of a pianist. The former World Bank president James D. Wolfensohn has played cello at Carnegie Hall.

"It's not a coincidence," says Mr. Greenspan, who gave up jazz clarinet but still dabbles at the baby grand in his living room. "I can tell you as a statistician, the probability that that is mere chance is extremely small." The cautious former Fed chief adds, "That's all that you can judge about the facts. The crucial question is: why does that connection exist?"

Paul Allen offers an answer. He says music "reinforces your confidence in the ability to create." Mr. Allen began playing the violin at age 7 and switched to the guitar as a teenager. Even in the early days of Microsoft, he would pick up his guitar at the end of marathon days of programming. The music was the emotional analog to his day job, with each channeling a different type of creative impulse. In both, he says, "something is pushing you to look beyond what currently exists and express yourself in a new way."

Mr. Todd says there is a connection between years of practice and competition and what he calls the "drive for perfection." The veteran advertising executive Steve Hayden credits his background as a cellist for his most famous work, the Apple "1984" commercial depicting rebellion against a dictator. "I was thinking of Stravinsky when I came up with that idea," he says. He adds that his cello performance background helps him work collaboratively: "Ensemble playing trains you, quite literally, to play well with others, to know when to solo and when to follow."

For many of the high achievers I spoke with, music functions as a "hidden language," as Mr. Wolfensohn calls it, one that enhances the ability to connect disparate or even contradictory ideas. When he ran the World Bank, Mr. Wolfensohn traveled to more than 100 countries, often taking in local performances (and occasionally joining in on a borrowed cello), which helped him understand "the culture of people, as distinct from their balance sheet."

It's in that context that the much-discussed connection between math and music resonates most. Both are at heart modes of expression. Bruce Kovner, the founder of the hedge fund Caxton Associates and chairman of the board of Juilliard, says he sees similarities between his piano playing and investing strategy; as he says, both "relate to pattern recognition, and some people extend these paradigms across different senses."

Mr. Kovner and the concert pianist Robert Taub both describe a sort of synesthesia - they perceive patterns in a three-dimensional way. Mr. Taub, who gained fame for his Beethoven recordings and has since founded a music software company, MuseAmi, says that when he performs, he can "visualize all of the notes and their interrelationships," a skill that translates intellectually into making "multiple connections in multiple spheres."

For others I spoke to, their passion for music is more notable than their talent. Woody Allen told me bluntly, "I'm not an accomplished musician. I get total traction from the fact that I'm in movies."

Mr. Allen sees music as a diversion, unconnected to his day job. He likens himself to "a weekend tennis player who comes in once a week to play. I don't have a particularly good ear at all or a particularly good sense of timing. In comedy, I've got a good instinct for rhythm. In music, I don't, really."

Still, he practices the clarinet at least half an hour every day, because wind players will lose their embouchure (mouth position) if they don't: "If you want to play at all you have to practice. I have to practice every single day to be as bad as I am." He performs regularly, even touring internationally with his New Orleans jazz band. "I never thought I would be playing in concert halls of the world to 5,000, 6,000 people," he says. "I will say, quite unexpectedly, it enriched my life tremendously."

Music provides balance, explains Mr. Wolfensohn, who began cello lessons as an adult. "You aren't trying to win any races or be the leader of this or the leader of that. You're enjoying it because of the satisfaction and joy you get out of music, which is totally unrelated to your professional status."

For Roger McNamee, whose Elevation Partners is perhaps best known for its early investment in Facebook, "music and technology have converged," he says. He became expert on Facebook by using it to promote his band, Moonalice, and now is focusing on video by live-streaming its concerts. He says musicians and top professionals share "the almost desperate need to dive deep." This capacity to obsess seems to unite top performers in music and other fields.

Ms. Zahn remembers spending up to four hours a day "holed up in cramped practice rooms trying to master a phrase" on her cello. Mr. Todd, now 41, recounted in detail the solo audition at age 17 when he got the second-highest mark rather than the highest mark - though he still was principal horn in Florida's All-State Orchestra.

"I've always believed the reason I've gotten ahead is by outworking other people," he says. It's a skill learned by "playing that solo one more time, working on that one little section one more time," and it translates into "working on something over and over again, or double-checking or triple-checking." He adds, "There's nothing like music to teach you that eventually if you work hard enough, it does get better. You see the results."

That's an observation worth remembering at a time when music as a serious pursuit - and music education - is in decline in this country.

Consider the qualities these high achievers say music has sharpened: collaboration, creativity, discipline and the capacity to reconcile conflicting ideas. All are qualities notably absent from public life. Music may not make you a genius, or rich, or even a better person. But it helps train you to think differently, to process different points of view - and most important, to take pleasure in listening.

Joanne Lipman is a co-author, with Melanie Kupchynsky, of the book "Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Gift of Great Expectations."


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Tools and nifty gadgets

11/20/2013

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I am always trying to look for ways to make practicing fun for my students (and myself - sometimes at least).  As famed music educator, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki wrote, "If there is no fun there is no learning".  Don't get me wrong, practicing is usually a serious matter as it needs to be done in order to get better  - but why not find ways to make it fun.  So I wanted to tell you about some fun gadgets and tools that can perhaps help make practice a bit more interesting.


Necessary Tools
First, there are specific tools that are absolutely necessary for a good practice session.  
1.  A room or area in your home where there are few distractions.
2.  Music Stand - unless playing by ear or memory
3.  Straight Chair - unless the student is standing.  
By the way, posture is very important!  It is a given for us wind players as we need optimum lung power but also for string players, percussionists and pianists.  Having good posture and position give us the best facility for our fingers and arms.  We were made to be upright and that gives our bodies the maximum energy needed to play at our utmost ability.
4.  pencil with eraser

As students get more advanced then they will most likely need:
- Metronome - to help keep a steady beat
- Tuner - to check intonation and to practice playing in tune
*these items can be purchased at an area music shop or online.

Now just add the instrument and these necessary tools can make music making fun for sure but we can definitely find more to shake up the practice session a bit.


Nifty Gadgets
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Highligher Tape
-Highlighter Tape - colorful highlighter tape that is removable.  
A great way to mark certain sections of the music that needs more attention.  Comes in fun colors and can be purchased from office supply or educational supply stores.

Programs/apps for your various devices!
 Tuners and Metronomes:  there are many apps out there for these items.  You can get some for free or pay a little.  Here are a couple that I like:  


-Cleartune ($3.99) - A very accurate tuner, includes settings for various instruments.

-Metronome PrO ($2.99) - there are many metronome apps out there but this seems to produce a loud and clear sound, includes many predefined rhythms and beat pattern options, and you can create and store rhythm.

-*Super Metronome Grovebox (FREE - though see below) - metronome with a beat!  

I love this app!  I love to practice scales and technique with a groove beat for instance; scales with a Salsa or Reggae beat - what fun!  Scales are important but WAY more fun when I can choose a groove (from Rock, Jazz, to Salsa, Funk, Reggae, etc.)

-**Super Metronome Grovebox Pro ($3.99) - spend the money to get the most grooves!

-Garage Band ($4.99) - record a performance, then manipulate the sounds, or have a jam session with yourself by adding layers of your playing.

-Voice Memo - to record practicing.  

What fun to hear how you sound.  Students can be their best teacher by listening to themselves.

-YouTube - wealth of performance and teaching videos.  

I recently happened to find 2 of the 3 band pieces that my daughter was working on in band.

-Photo Booth - filming.  

An awesome tool to see what you look like playing.  It can be a complete eyeopener!  I had never seen myself perform until I was receiving my Bachelors in performance.  I found out that I swayed so much when I played that I looked like I was going to topple over!  Boy did I change things fast and it actually really helped my playing aside from helping me to not look totally ridiculous!

-NMML (Naxos Music Library)/NJL (Naxos Jazz Library) (Free) - Mobile access to two of the LIbrary's streaming music databases.


Well, I hope you find some of these gadgets useful and fun.  I know there are many more out there that you all might find helpful.  Basically being creative in the process of practicing can do wonders.  Let me know if you find useful tools as I am always looking for more.

"If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well.  This is the practice pathway up the mountain." Robert Dick


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My practice space complete with one of my biggest fans, Harley.
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September 22nd, 2013

9/22/2013

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Welcome to Practice musings.  
This blog is intended for students, parents and young musicians who would like some ideas to help with practicing their instrument.  

I will include what I believe are useful articles and some ideas I have found to help with practicing.  One thing I try to always remember when practicing is to enjoy the music and make it come to life!

So here is the first...
a great article for the start of the school!

Back to School Tips for Parents: Practice vs. Homework?
 by Liz Lambson

I’m seeing photos pop up on Facebook and Instagram of my friends’ children ready for their first day of school–backpacks on, fresh new outfits, big smiles. And while these courageous kids may be a little nervous to tackle a new year, it’s often the parents who feel more overwhelmed when school starts up again.

There is so much to worry about: filling out registration forms, buying new school clothes, sizing up that endless list of school supplies, getting everyone fed and dressed in the morning, meeting with the PTA, getting to know your child’s teacher, hoping your child has good friends and stays out of trouble . . . it’s enough to make you want to just sit still at a desk for a few hours while someone lectures you about the Civil War.

And then there’s homework. Before you know it, the dining table is buried in notebooks and papers and textbooks and (these days) a laptop or two. And somewhere, underneath a pile of backpacks and sports equipment you might find your child’s violin.

For children in school music ensembles, there’s yet another somewhat-intangible task that needs to be accomplished between all that homework: PRACTICE. Because not all music teachers require their students to keep a practice log that will be graded, the expectations to practice are vague for most studens who don’t know how much, how often, or simply when to practice during the school week.

As a parent, you want your child to succeed in both academics and extracurriculars, but finding a balance can be a real challenge.   So when your child is stressing out about a book report due on Friday, is it possible to step away from Bronte to spend some time with Brahms? Does practice interrupt study time, or does study time interrupt practice?

Hopefully neither. When it comes to encouraging your child to practice AND do well with their studies, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1.  Homework and practice are both important. Neither are superior to the other; rather, they complement each other. If you want your child to take music seriously, emphasize how important practice is to becoming a great musician. Likewise, your child’s love for music shouldn’t keep them playing Rock Band for hours on end when there’s a huge exam coming up. Balance is key (see below).

2.  There IS time to practice during the week. 

Hard to believe? Yes. Impossible? No. Scheduling and setting aside time for both homework and practice is key. For elementary students, even ten minutes of focused practice every day is a huge accomplishment! Older high school students serious about their musicianship might commit to practicing an hour+ per day. Maybe practicing every other day works better for your child. But no matter what the goal is as far as how much time to spend practicing, the key is consistency and regularity. Practicing doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. Just carve out a slot of time in the morning, while dinner is cooking, right after school, or whatever works for you and your child.

3.  Establish a place to study and a place to practice. 

Most students have a study space at home, whether at a desk in their room or at a table or in an office. Similarly, designate a place to practice. It could be a room or simply a corner somewhere where there is already a music stand set out, a metronome at hand, a shelf for music, a storage spot for the instrument, and decent lighting. So when you say, “Hey, Johnny, it’s time to practice!” he knows exactly where to go to make it happen.

4.  Being well-rounded is a good thing. 

Academics, arts and music, and sports/physical fitness are all wonderful and each require discipline. Encourage your child to embrace both academics and practice as exercises for different parts of the brain. Music sharpens the mind and will likely help your child do better academically as a direct result of learning an instrument.

5.  Practice can be seen as a nice break from time at the desk. 

When you notice your child’s eyes glazed over and drool trickling down onto George Washington’s face in the history textbook, try for a change of pace. Doing something physical like standing up to play an instrument is so invigorating after reading or writing for too long. Practice can be actually be really relaxing and rejuvinating when the brain is otherwise fried.

6.  Homework can be a nice break from time at the music stand. 

After practicing a really difficult exercise or piece, encourage your child to take a break–like flopping down on the couch to read an assigned chapter before returning to the music stand to finish up. 
Need a change of pace? Try practicing outdoors with a friend! (Photo by John Benson)


7.  Practice can be fun. 

Mix things up. Keep the act of both practice and study far from grueling. Keep a positive attitude about practice by talking about practice as if it is (and because it totally can be) an enjoyable activity and something fun to do. Talk about the instrument as something special and worth respect. Avoid treating practice as a form of punishment or your child will begin to view practicing and eating slimy green vegetables as similar forms of torture.

8.  Practice is a form of homework. 

If practice is seen as an optional activity, it may never happen. Treat practice like an assignment, as something that must be accomplished.

9.  Family time is essential. 

Doing homework and practicing don’t have to draw away from positive family relationships and time together. Try practicing with your child. Ask them (in a positive, inviting way) to play what they’re learning for you or to perform for the family. And when it’s time to hit the books, try sitting down to study with your child by helping them with their assignments or simply sitting next to them while you do your own reading, study, or work. Being present is a simple way to be supportive.

10.   Don’t take anything too seriously. 

Keep calm. Don’t panic. Everything is going to be just fine.

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    Why?

    I've always been interested in practicing.  How to get the best results.  I have never wanted to practice for hours on end - I have way too much to do (want to do, rather do, need to do, etc.).  I hope these posts give some good ideas on ways to make practicing easier, if not fun and inspiring.


    "A beautiful sound, a beautiful heart." Shinichi Suzuki

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