How do you balance your music practice with other life commitments?
How do you balance your music practice with other life commitments?
36 replies
-
Love this!! Its the equivalent of getting a treadmill desk - remove all friction!
-
Dominic Cheli said:
In fact, I usually DON'T practice my piece until I have done a cursory overview of it first, away from the piano, marking in all the obvious harmonies, fingerings, and more. That way when I get to the piano I can dive in with a head start! I practice music that already as that "preliminary work" done.
This is neat! I try and do the same in composition land - won't write a note until I've made a gameplan, listened to references, etc. -
Great topic! I have to balance a lot of things myself, and I'm not always succeeding (read: usually not) in getting everything done.
Some of my commitments this fall:
1. Pianostudents
2. Musical class (We are setting up Annie jr, and I need to learn the piano part, and study with singers and band)
3. Band-students. Need to be prepared on all typical band-instruments. (Not too advanced)
4. Gigs and concerts. (Playing with bands, choirs, solo piano, students recitals etc. )
5. Create a course on Garageband.
6. Create a seminar on Jazz-piano.
7. Composing my own music.
9. Taking lessons with Jarred Dunn!
8. Posting on Tonebase!
9. Swimming/Yoga/Running/Chi-Gong/Work-out
10. Friends and family
I try to plan out and think about what I need to work on THE MOST, and get that done early.
I also listen to playlists, especially when playing with bands I want to spend as little time as possible with self-practice, but just be prepared enough to when we are working together.
I see that my own music get the least priority, because when I'm done with everything else I'm usually to tired to work on it. So I need to plan this one out better to finish the project.
I love visualizing before concerts but need to focus without distractions, so that is also mentally demanding for me.
I like going into a meditative state with a piece, and planning out my way threw it this way. Especially before performance.
I could spend more time with the score before hand, and maybe save some time in front of the piano.
I have a lot of potential for improvement with planning, so I recently started with a diary. I've tried it before and usually drop out after some time, but I give it another go.
-
Just had to comment on the picture at the top of the page - it's brilliant!
-
Great suggestions Dominic. I look at my schedule for each day, and immediately write in the exact time I choose to practice piano and violin. It's an appointment I keep with myself. Generally piano mornings 9am before other commitments, and violin late afternoon after other work. It is ok to vary it as needed, but the time is pre-listed on my appointment calendar like everything else. This works very well for me.
-
Start my day with the "bare minimum" practice which is one hour. Then pepper in even more practice throughout the rest of the day. Always start with myself before my students–think oxygen mask on the plane!