Thursday, July 19, 2012

The timer--my new best friend!

Hello all,
As I mentioned in my last post, sometimes I have a hard time concentrating when I practice.  It's the truth!  There are a number of things that distract me from focused, efficient practice, such as:

My grocery list (food is very important to me)
Calls from my students
Thinking about my students
My outfit (clothes are ALSO very important to me)
Clothes I wish I had (see above)
Emails
The mess in my apartment
An itch on my nose
The spider crawling across the carpet
The ticking of the clock
Bills to pay
Wanting to talk with my husband
The inviting sunshine outside
Wondering what is going to happen in the next episode of Castle
and the list goes on and on...
You name it, it's a distraction.

So, what do I do to get myself back on task?  I've heard many times of using a timer to help your children practice, but I never considered it as a technique that would be applicable to me.  HOWEVER,
I've started using the TimeTag app (available from the app store) on my iPad, and it has changed the way I practice.  I can keep track of how much time I spend on each piece, write notes on what I did, and color-code everything.  It makes my little OCD heart so happy.  When the timer is running, I know it is time to practice, and therefore not time for ANYTHING ELSE.  It is not time for getting a drink, going to the bathroom, or sending a quick email.  It is practice time.  If one of those things absolutely must be done, I stop the timer, get it done, and come back.  It surprised me at first how slow the time went before I had reached an hour of actual practice time, but then I realized how much of what I considered my "practice hours" must have been filled with puttering.  Shameful, really.

As I mentioned, another perk of using the timer, is how I can keep track of how much I practiced each piece.  I have a TON of music to learn for my upcoming audition, and it is overwhelming!  I created a "tag" for each piece on my TimeTag app, and can keep track of how much I have practiced each one over the past months.  It is important not to get too bogged down in one piece, I want to get through every piece every two days.  I have an allotted twenty minutes for each piece, and the timer keeps me aware of how much time has passed.  Because I know I only have a limited number of minutes for each piece, I am more likely to focus and really get things done.

The timer is proving to be incredibly helpful as I prepare for my audition.  I highly suggest the use of a timer as a practice tool for students and professionals alike!!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Getting Started!

Hello everyone!
I have never been much of a blogger, but I never really had much to write about so why bother, right?  Well, now I'm trying to make some serious changes in my life, and regardless of whether anyone would want to read about it, I would like to document my journey.
I am an aspiring classical violinist and am working on furthering my career, and as most people know musicians have to PRACTICE.  A lot.  Unfortunately, although I love violin and it is my passion, practicing isn't.  I would love to tell you that I have this inner drive that pushes me into the practice room for days at a time, but I don't.  Honestly, I would rather snuggle up in front of the television with a carton of ice cream and an entire season of Criminal Minds than turn on my metronome and get to work.  I would love to say that once I get my fiddle out, I am so in the zone that I lose track of time and become absorbed in the work ahead of me.  That is not the case.
This being said, I want to practice.  I want to improve myself, and I want to play beautifully.  But how to do it?
One obstacle is the time required.  I have thirty-five violin students.  THIRTY-FIVE.  This translates to about thirty hours of actual teaching time every week, which doesn't include lengthy phone calls with parents about their child's progress, scheduling, concerns, etc.  Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and I adore all of my students, but it is exhausting.  When I finish teaching for the day, I don't have a lot of time or energy to devote to practicing.  This means I need to be completely efficient and focused during the limited hours I have.

I have fallen off the practicing bandwagon a little bit due to these busy circumstances, but I need to get my rear in gear to get ready for an audition for a professional symphony in September.  I want to be as prepared and confident as I can.

In this blog, I am going to discuss my techniques for practice, how I inspire myself, and how I make the most of my time.
I am so excited to share my musical progress with you all!