Practicing Smart During a Pandemic

I have to say, this is not a post I anticipated writing! That being said, I think it’s a necessary one. I can imagine myself even a few years ago falling into a severe practice rut during this extended staycation. As it is, it’s taken some serious thinking about what I should practice during this time for me to come up with a game plan for myself. Here are some things that might help you do the same.

Reconsider Fundamentals

Hopefully you have a routine of fundamentals and warm-ups that you do every day (or at least most days). Take some time to consider your routine. Is it lacking something? Is it too long? Too short? This is a good opportunity to revamp your fundies so that they focus on what you need the most work on right now. Ideally, a warm-up routine should contain long tones, articulation exercises, some instrument-specific exercises (i.e. register slurs for clarinet), and technical work on scales, arpeggios, and thirds. Make sure you start each day’s practice time by doing this routine.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

If you’re on the audition circuit right now, your auditions for the next few months have likely been pushed back quite a bit. Don’t let that stop you from practicing your excerpts, but if you practice like the audition is next week for the next two months, you’re going to burn yourself out on the music. Keep practicing, but don’t overdo it. Remember, you have a lot of extra time, so use it to work on slowing things down and building consistency. This goes for every big performance project: recitals, concerts, you name it!

Nothing To Practice? Invent Something

If you’re not working on much, find a project for yourself. Have you ever made your way through Rose 32? If not, now’s a great time! Personally, I’m sight-reading an etude every day (from Jean-Jean, who really has a way with accidentals). If you’d rather, you can work on a single etude for a few days, then reward yourself by making a recording to share with your friends or post online! This will help you have a sense of working toward a goal and then a reward when your recording is finished.

Another good option is to practice for an audition that you’re not planning to take, especially if you’re a younger player who has never (or rarely) audition-prepped before. Many orchestras post the excerpt lists for upcoming auditions; just make yourself a packet with those excerpts and get rolling! You can have a mock audition for your colleagues when you feel prepared and get some valuable feedback, too.

Play What You Love

The next few weeks? months? are going to get monotonous very quickly. If you find yourself unfocused or just feeling uninspired, take a break to play something you really love. Maybe you want to bust out the Poulenc Sonata for a quick jaunt, or maybe you’ve got a book of Disney tunes that perks you right up. Whatever makes you happy, be sure to include it in your practice at least occasionally. For many of us, the most rewarding part of playing is playing with others, and we’re all going to be missing that for a while. Try to keep your own enthusiasm alive by playing through some pieces you really enjoy just for fun.

Don’t Binge-Practice Occasionally

You’ll make better strides if you practice for just an hour every day rather than three hours every three days. That being said, we all need to practice some grace with ourselves right now. It’s a stressful and scary time, and if you miss a day of practice, that’s ok. If you’re too anxious to get anything done besides your fundamentals, that’s totally fine, and you should be proud of yourself for getting those fundies done that day. Be patient and kind with yourself, and set your expectations differently each day depending on how you’re feeling.

Practicing Outside the Studio

You can improve your playing and musicianship in lots of ways. One great way is to listen to excellent performers; take advantage of the wide range of free music streams from some of the world’s best ensembles that are available right now. Another good way is to pick up a nonfiction book about music. I’m currently slogging through Hoeprich’s The Clarinet, which is an excellent preface to nap time. Remember also to take care of yourself as a person; take a walk in the sunshine, do some yoga or meditation, and make sure you’re eating some fruit in addition to chips. In order to be a musician, you have to be a functional human, so don’t let those things fall to the wayside.

I hope you found some valuable tips in this post! Please leave a comment or head over to the Contact page to leave a suggestion for future posts.

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Rose 32 Etudes

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