There is a big difference between hearing something and actually listening to it. In A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman observes “Sounds thicken the sensory stew of our lives,
I’ve been playing music since I was 5 years old so I’ve had a lot of time logged in the practice room. Today I’ll share some personal stories about practicing
Far more time is spent in the practice room than the performance hall. I have been teaching private music lessons since 1995. One of my primary goals as a teacher
I love to read about the intersection of science, music, and psychology. I encourage all musicians to read this article reviewing research on effective practice skills by Robert Duke at the
Our brains crave novelty. Literally turning things upside down can give us the new perspective we need. Feel stuck in your practice? Are your kids complaining the music is “too
Tiger Mothers, Helicopter Dads, French Parenting, Free-Rangers… We’ve managed to create some fancy labels for styles of parenting. As soon as the kids hit the front door in the afternoon,
Motivation As parents, we want to support our kids. We know that playing a musical instrument is good for them, but the issue of practice can be thorny. I’ve seen this
Music instruction is better for children’s brains than “sports, theater or dance.” Save the link to this article and read again after a big fight with your kid about practicing.
The pencil monster struck again. I was listening to my 8 year-old daughter while she was practicing. She was playing the flute in her room and I stepped in to
Adding pencil marks to music are effective in helping learn new material. But exactly what parts should be marked and what symbols are helpful? If a mistake happens consistently, try to