Exploring Reflective Practice Strategies: 6 Ways to Deepen Your Connection to Music
By: Liz Craig, Pianist
Published: Oct.4th, 2024
Illustration by AI, it's a bit wonky but hey captures the creative spirit I'm going for in this post!
We are one month into the school year now and I've noticed that practicing is starting to wane a bit as school and other activities ramp up. I've had this post in my drafts for a while and it was just waiting for the right moment to emerge. I think now, as the weather gets a little cooler and inside beckons more and more - the piano and music calls to us to play her more deeply. Here are a few ideas of what to pay attention to while practicing to elevate us beyond the daily grind to a place of spiritual connection with music that will really nourish us as musicians.
Have a clear vision.
When you practice, try to visualize creating a beautiful end product in the piece that you are learning. See if you can really picture the expressions on the faces of people who hear you play. Imagine the way the keys will feel and the sound you will produce when you are performing.
Monitor progress.
Mostly we are concerned with the practicalities - what are you practicing and how do you push the needle every day? Challenge yourself to cover more ground while balancing it with practice sessions that are more reflective. Only bite what you can chew thoroughly, that way you get the most nutrients out of it. It is of course also very satisfying to see noticeable progress towards your goals.
Repetition.
In what ways can you repeat your material to reinforce the way that you want to perform it? Try not to think too hard, just do. Take a problem spot and write it in a different style or improvise with your other hand. Create a practice loop - bass note pedal, chords, etc. and use it as the basis to improvise for 5 minutes. Really get to know that tricky spot, and it will become your friend.
Chase an emotional experience.
Pay attention to what resonates for you. If you love what it sounds like and how the music makes you feel, you will want to repeat it more and you'll get addicted to practicing. There are pieces I play when I want to feel powerful, reflective, melancholy, in love - the full range of human emotion can be felt through music I believe.
List your anxieties.
It's good to be honest with ourselves about our fears and worries to give them less power over us. I find it helpful to think of things you to do to support and relieve the anxieties. For example, if you are worried you won't hit a big chord properly, maybe list a few different strategies to feel confident in that moment and to be more sure of your success.
Gratitude practice.
After playing for the day, thank your piano, thank your teacher, thank your parents, thank your practice space - thank your metronome! Reach out to the composer of the piece you are playing, if you can, and thank them. Make lists of all the things your are grateful for trying to take nothing for granted. The breath you a breathing now counts, as well as the food you ate for breakfast.
I hope that this post has inspired some reflective thinking! I must credit Randall Faber and Nadre Sol for some of these ideas in a workshop they gave piano teachers called "Practicing Like a Pro" as well as the book "Intrinsic Motivation" by Stefan Falk. To be added to my waitlist for lessons, please register yourself here!
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