Musician's toolkit #1
Hi everyone!
I am posting a series of notices with some general advice for musicians, especially students, of any age and performing ability. I hope you find them informative and helpful.
My first few posts will cover PRACTICE.
Whenever any music learner asks me how much they should practise every day or every week, the answer I always give is "it depends". Then I go on to explain that their individual practice depends on:
1. How much time you can spare for daily practice.
2. Your current performance ability and how much you want to improve.
So first I'll talk about practice times and length. With very young beginners (aged seven or below), I recommend 10 to 15 minutes of practice every day. With slightly older children I recommend starting with 15 to 20 minutes a day, and for adolescents and adults I recommend around thirty minutes after a few weeks of building their stamina.
Now we all have busy work or school schedules during the week, so it's easy for students to find themselves without the time to practise as much as they would like. This is often the case with adult students who work full-time and/or are parents, which is something I have to take into account as a teacher. Sometimes my younger students have school exams which take up a lot of their spare time. Therefore my general rule of thumb for busy students is to practice every day, even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. You'd be surprised at how much you can cover in 10 minutes. Just be sure to warm up with some scales or simple exercises before working on a piece.
The second issue as mentioned before is your current ability and how much you want to before. So as students develop more stamina and develop their cello playing skills, they should gradually increase their practice time. If you or your child has an exam coming up, aim for at least a solid half-hour every day. More advanced students should work towards 45 minutes or an hour of daily practice, and more if you are Grade 8 standard.
So that's my first Musician's Toolkit post! If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message via Neighbourly. If you would like to find out more about learning my instrument (the cello!), let me know and we can set up a consultation. Remember first consultations are always free of charge.
Happy practising and I'll post again soon!
Turn downsizing stress into strength
Downsizing can open the door to a new stage of your life that is rich in opportunity. However, it can be a daunting prospect. If you are embarking on a new chapter of life, the thought of shedding familiar possessions can feel even more stressful. This can be true even if the life changes are a good thing, such as a move to somewhere you will love to live.
Once you understand why you have this feeling, you can reframe it as creating a new environment that will support your present life while reminding you of your best experiences.
Click read more for the full article.
Minimalist Design in Apartment Living
Ryman’s Charles Upham Retirement Village resident Di is a former fashion designer, artist and self-confessed shoe hoarder who travels, still paints and has stamped her eclectic minimalist style on her apartment.
She gives us her top 3 design tips on how she’s turned her space into a beautiful home.
Hi, what's your name?
We want to get to know our neighbours and we think you do too!
Simply share a little about yourself on the Know Thy Neighbour page and others will follow suit (you could also win one of our 10 x $50 Prezzy® cards!).
Are you the go-to person for baking advice (and a cup of sugar!) or have some computer skills that you're happy to share? We'd love to know.
Whether you're looking for others to join you on your walks, or just wanting to know more about your neighbours, go ahead and introduce yourself.
Loading…
