Berrien Springs Band News
November 11, 2019
Upcoming Dates
Friday, November 22nd - Pie & Wreath pick up at the Middle School 2pm-6pm
Wednesday, November 27th - HS cultural awareness assembly - HS Jazz & Drumming classes perform
Wednesday, December 4th - Senior Luncheon - HS Jazz, Drumming, & Wind Symphony perform
Monday, December 9th - Middle School Winter Band Concert @ High School
Wednesday, December 11th - High School Winter Band Concert @ High School
Thursday, December 12th - Kindle Christmas - HS Jazz performs
Wednesday, December 18th - HS Jazz Tour
High School S&E forms due today!
Practicing
Often around this time our students start to have the "I don't wanna practice" blues. Here are some tips from NPR's Deceptive Cadence author Anastasia Tsioulcas on keeping your practice routine fresh:
- "Find somewhere quiet. This seems too obvious for words, but not only will you be far less likely to succumb to all sorts of distractions, but entering a special practice area, whether it's a certain room or just a corner of the living room, will help prepare you mentally for this very particular kind of work. Mindful intention is everything, and having the ritual of going to the same place every time can help set that intention.
- Have your supplies nearby. Keep a pencil sharpener and a very clean eraser within arm's reach, along with a pencil to mark up your music. Simple, right? But those little things are easy to forget, and if you have to go searching for them, add up to a big waste of time.
- Technology can be an amazing aid — as long as you don't spend too much time futzing with it. Three free or low-cost apps for your phone or iPad: a metronome, a tuner and a timer, which are all essential tools for practicing.
- Begin with the end in mind: Have a goal for each practice session before you start playing. Just playing through your music isn't the same thing as practicing. Before you start, think: What do I want to accomplish today? If you're not sure what you need to focus on, ask your teacher for a few concrete goals to work toward before the next lesson — and write them down so that you can refer to them during your practice sessions.
- Map a practice session out like a workout. Lots of musicians start with a few actual stretches and breathing exercises before they pick up their instruments. Even if you don't go quite that far, a pretty common scenario is to start with scales as a warm-up, to loosen up your muscles and get your brain thinking about technique; move on to the "working" part where you analyze and try to solve problems; then cool down by improvising or revisiting some music you already know well.
- Practice smarter, not necessarily longer. You'll probably accomplish a whole lot more in a short amount of time if you have a very focused objective. So make the most of the time you have. Say you are having trouble with two very tricky measures. Set your timer for a short period (like five or 10 minutes), and then work just on one problem in as many ways as you can — break it down into even smaller and more manageable bits, go super slow, try to play the passage backwards, change the rhythm, whatever. If that trouble spot is still giving you trouble, then make yourself a mental note to come back to that section again tomorrow. Chances are it will be much, much easier the next time around.
- Don't always start at the beginning every time. It can feel really good to hear yourself playing the beginning of a piece beautifully, but you may wind up wasting the limited time and energy you have. (Also, it leads to performances that start strong and then, well, wilt.)
- Challenge yourself — physically. Especially if you're trying to wrestle down an element that you find problematic, scientific researchers say that if you add a physical challenge to the difficult task, such as trying to play that part while standing on one leg or while walking, your brain is likely to start carving out new neural pathways — and the original task will be easier when you return to just doing that.
- Practice away from your instrument. Many musicians use visualization in the same way that athletes do: They run through their music without touching their instruments. Try bringing your music along with you (either on paper or a mobile device) when you know you'll have some downtime, such as during a car or bus ride, and read through the piece silently.
- Reward hard work — in positive ways — to help your brain automate good habits. That sounds like out-and-out bribery, but finding something that your brain likes helps it remember the process better and more accurately."
Questions? Contact Us!
Kelly Rosselit - High School: krosselit@homeoftheshamrocks.org
Adam Emeigh - Middle School: aemeigh@homeoftheshamrocks.org
Facebook: facebook.com/berrienspringsbands
Twitter: @berrienband