#Practicechallenge Practicing requires chocolate

Are you sleepy?  IMSLP.  Well, I really am, but the 500,000 free scores will do nicely to keep me awake.

St. Paul students,  here are some familiar pieces to look at:

“Bist du bei mir” 

“Nulla in mondo pax sincera”

Mozart Coronation Mass

Here’s my recipe for how to practice:

1.  Something for your spine  – roll down your back into a hang, do neck rolls, etc.
2. Get your breath moving – staccati, lip trills, hissing
3. Move through your whole range – big whoops, octaves, arpeggii
4. Fine tune a bit – vowels, slow scales
5. Work on a piece – pick something you’d like to tackle for 5 minutes.  See below for details
6. Sing for fun

Practice logs – when you practice, have a goal in mind and a stopping point.

Example:

“Bist du bei mir” – the high part of the second section, make smoother and easier

time allowed: 5 minutes

Tools: lip trills, staccati

When the timer goes off, write down what worked and what didn’t, and what you’d like to do next with it, if anything.  It’s a great way of seeing what tools work best for you and thinking of new ones.

Walkable Treble Staff – Here is a video I made about a new game

I’ve found some wonderful resources recently for Alexander Technique!  If you’re unfamiliar with it, prepare yourself for a treat.   In a lesson, you work on your posture, but it’s also just very relaxing, comfortable, and pampering.

Alexander Technique Madison Square Park NYC – This is a nice Youtube channel that explains some of the basic principles of the technique.

Lesley Edwards: Discover the Alexander Technique – Lovely podcast to walk you through some of the work.  I’ve been doing this one at home and enjoying it.

Join us for some great music and root bear floats at First Lutheran Church!

Labor Day Concert and Root Beer Floats

Monday, September 5, 7PM

First Lutheran Church of Boston

Admission is $10, and tickets will be available at the door