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Mental Health Tips for Artists
Mental health is not often discussed in the arts. Musicians, dancers, artists, photographers, and other creative fields have incredibly high-stress careers. Our livelihood is based on public approval, perception, and criticism. We spend countless hours practicing, perfecting, analyzing, improving, and examining our art. Our art is an extension of ourselves, and we expose our most vulnerable thoughts and emotions with family, friends, and complete strangers. By pursuing a career in the arts, you are unknowingly signing a contract which exposes you to a lifetime of criticism, rejection, and crippling self-doubt. Because creative fields are so competitive, you will receive ten rejections for every success (by my rough estimations). Also, balancing professional, personal,…
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9 Secrets Classical Musicians Won’t Tell You
You probably have some preconceived notions about classical musicians. Maybe you’re thinking of that one annoying flute player that sat behind you in high school. Maybe you’re thinking of that one episode of Bugs Bunny (or if you’re a millennial, that episode of Hey Arnold! where they go to the opera). Whatever stereotypes you have about classical musicians, they’re probably untrue. Here are some secrets you may not know about classical musicians: 1) Classical music is not a 9-5 job. Most orchestras don’t have rehearsals or concerts every day. Non-musicians look at our schedules and think, “They only have 8 hours of rehearsals this week? That’s nothing – I work 50 hours every…
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The Musician’s Practice Pyramid
Have you ever walked (or dejectedly shuffled) into the practice room, begrudgingly opened your case, assembled your instrument….and wondered what the heck you have to practice? Maybe you’re overwhelmed with excerpts. Maybe you have to learn your scales for All State auditions. Or maybe you don’t even know what you should practice. Not to fear, my trusty Practice Pyramid is here! You’re probably familiar with the food pyramid from health classes past. It’s undergone a few makeovers recently, but the basic idea is essentially the same. A daily diet with the right proportions of certain foods will increase your overall health. Like the food pyramid, your practice routine should also…
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Why Distractions Make You a Better Performer
The crisp snap of the opening Coke can was followed by the rude guzzling of the ice-cold refreshment. The fizz of carbonation gradually lessened after its owner noisily placed the soda on the folding table in the makeshift band room. The entrance of a second soda-wielding woman was announced by a slamming door, causing the snare drums to sizzle. As the two soda-slurping women discussed their lunch options, I focused on the manipulated sound of the electric keyboard playing the accompaniment to the lyrical movement of Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 73. This wasn’t a casual practice session – this was the final…
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How to Become a Master Sight Reader
Sight reading – the thought itself invokes terror among students and professionals alike. This is a crucial skill for musicians to master, yet many are unsure how to approach it. How do you prepare for the unknown? It can be anything – altissimo, complicated rhythms, ornaments, complex fingerings, or all of these combined! The secret to practicing sight-reading is three simple words: Are you ready for the secret? Just do it! (Thanks, Nike!) I am always shocked at how many of my students do not even attempt to practice sight-reading. Like everything else in life, the hardest part is facing your fear. I like to remind my students that sight…
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52 Ways to Practice Your Scales
One New Year’s resolution for musicians that never goes out of style? Scales. Think you already know your scales? Think again. Learning the notes to each scale is just the beginning. Below are several patterns and sequences to build technique and mastery of scales. I’ve included 52 different ideas so you can have something new to practice every week this year. Happy practicing! 1. Written “normal” scale 2. Natural minor 3. Harmonic minor 4. Melodic minor 5. Major pentatonic scales 6. Minor pentatonic scales 7. Octatonic scales 8. Whole tone scales 9. Blues scales 10. Chromatic scales 11. Ionian mode (aka major scale) 12. Dorian mode 13. Phrygian mode 14.…
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New Years Resolutions Every Musician Should Make
It’s that time of year again, when we swear off carbs, late-night Netflix binges, and vow to spend every spare moment at the gym. There’s something magical about a new year and a fresh start, and even if you don’t make resolutions, it’s a great opportunity for you to assess what went well the past year and how you can improve the next. Below are my suggestions for resolutions I believe every musician should make, along with a few tips I’ve learned from making (and breaking) these. Update your press kit. Check your resume, CV, biography, discography, and all other publicity materials for mistakes and add new accomplishments. This is also a great…
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What to Pack for Your Audition
Congratulations! You’ve passed the recording round for a competition, made it past a preliminary round, got accepted to an honor band (or All State Band), got your audition time for your college audition, or sent in your application for the latest orchestra audition. You know the obvious next steps – and if you don’t, take a look at my audition checklist. As you pack and prepare for your audition, carefully read any correspondence for any specific instructions or directions. Whether you are competing in a solo, orchestral, chamber, or any other kind of competition, don’t forget to bring these items with you: A bottle of water – The last thing…
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The Prepared Musician’s Guide to Planning for Auditions
Every musician’s favorite time of year is quickly approaching…audition season! Whether you’re preparing for college auditions, conservatory auditions, All State auditions, summer festivals, solo competitions, or some other kind of audition, it can be hard to plan the logistics of getting to and from each place (let alone play well at each audition!) That’s where I can help. You see, I have a little problem – I am an obsessive list maker. Not always a bad thing, but it can easily get out of hand. I use the following list for every audition I take to make sure that I don’t forget anything in the pre-audition preparation frenzy. For each…
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Overcome Your Practice Plateau With These Practice Hacks
Have you ever walked out of the practice room and wondered what the heck you spent the last few hours doing? Maybe it wasn’t a terrible practice session, but it probably wasn’t that great either, right? Sometimes practicing feels like walking up the down escalator – having to redo passages you’ve already practiced, struggling with the same problems, zoning out or going on autopilot, or not knowing how to take your music to the next level. Congratulations, you’ve reached a practice plateau. Practice plateaus occur when we become complacent with our practice routine. It’s so easy to make practicing just another item on your endless to-do list, but when you’re not dedicating focus…