When the last school year started, I tried something I hadn't done before. I started prepping kids for the winter holiday recital in September. They thought I was crazy, but I knew it had to be a good idea! Some of you might be reading this thinking, "Duh! I do this every year!" But not everyone is hip to this idea. The reasons why it's so great...
Read MoreEvery once in awhile, a student will ask me a question that seems like it should be easy to answer but isn’t. Recently, I had a young vocalist ask me who my favorite singer is. The follow-up question: “Why are they the best?” got me thinking a little bit more. The student in question is young, and while it is flattering to think that she considers...
Read MoreAn inevitable part of being a musician is performance anxiety. From accomplished performers and teachers to beginning students we all experience it to some degree. Even those who say they do not deal with it still have a physiological reaction when performing. It is important to have techniques ready to teach students how to deal with the anxiety they are experiencing. One of the first things...
Read MoreA couple times a year I have an adult student (usually) come to a crisis point in their lessons. Frustrated they always tell me that they think they are not doing well and are even regressing; losing skills and knowledge where they used to be strong. This is something that happens to all students regardless of age or skill level. It is important to let students...
Read MoreSo, a few months ago I wrote about starting your musical New Year’s Resolution. How are you doing with your practice routine? I must admit I failed after two weeks! I got sick with bronchitis and then there was a death in my family. If you remember my blog I noted that “internet research indicates that you have a whopping 20% chance of sticking to...
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