“Music isn’t just something that comforts us or distracts us, it goes way beyond that -it’s an ideology.”
It's Fall! With additional homework and more work to do, we realize that practicing music and attending lessons could pose a challenge. To remedy this, we have our Top 5 Music "Tricks & Treats" to ensure that you and your child have a productive and musical fall season.
Below are our 5 top tricks and treat ideas to do during the school year!
1. Incorporate Music into Your Daily Routine - A Treat
My piano teacher always reminded me to "never walk past the piano without playing it. Even if it's to find middle C or to play a scale." Incorporating music into my daily routine helps me stay connected.
Practicing requires concentration and focus, and that can be very fatiguing. If you break that one hour into three 20 minute sessions, you will be more focused in each session and use your time more effectively.
2. Set Goals for Your Practice Time - A Trick
Make a plan for what you want to accomplish that day. Setting a goal helps you to focus. What do you want or need to achieve in that time? For example, do you want to memorize a piece? Do you want to figure out the fingerings for that complex passage in one of your pieces? Do you need to work on your breath stamina of a complicated phrase? If you go into the practice room with a goal in mind, you will be focused and motivated to attain that goal.
3. Record Yourself - A Treat
By recording your practice sessions, you can listen back and catch some things you may miss at the moment. Listening to yourself can help you find issues, and watching yourself can alert you to tension issues that you didn't know you had and much more. And if your song is perfect, what a great Treat to listen back to all of your hard work.
4. Repetition Is Key - A Trick
Studies have shown you need to do something the correct way at least three times to break a habit. Every time you miss a note in that challenging part of a song, you will have to repeat that passage the correct way at least three times. Break more extensive passages into smaller ones, and repeat them correctly until they become part of your muscle memory.
5. Work on Memorization of Your Song - A Treat
Being able to play your song for others is the most fabulous feeling in the world!!
To memorize a song, you must first perfect small sections of your music and string a few small sections together to make a more extended section. Doing a little bit every day will help you finally play the entire piece and then play it for your family and friends. What a Treat!!
These five tips will help you stay connected to music every day and help you stay focused on practicing. And that is... Music to Our Ears!