Written by Sarah Haughton I’m in the process of training for a half-marathon. During the final days leading up to the race, part of my training includes what I like to call “race simulation”. Simulation allows you to practice enduring fatigue, maintaining form, and regulating your body chemistry. All of these elements find their equivalents in performance preparation. The goal in race and performance simulation is not to...
Read Moreby Alyssa Cowell Performance Etiquette Reminders for the Upcoming Recital Season As the school year begins and the recital season draws closer, it’s a good time to review some performance etiquette practices! You’ve practiced diligently to memorize your piece, you’ve signed up for a time slot, and you’ve had your dress rehearsal with your accompanist. It’s time to perform in recital! If you’re like most recital participants, you’re...
Read MoreBy Jamey Mann This July I had the privilege of studying with Andrea Cannon for my Suzuki Book 1 certification for guitar. The training is a humbling experience which made me realize how much more I have to learn and how the techniques used in Suzuki can be applied to not just the very young but with older students as well. One central aspect of the...
Read Moreby Sarah Haughton The imitation of recordings has long been demonized in the music education community. Viewed as a form of creative impotence, teachers tend to discourage their students from copying recordings. To the contrary, I believe we should encourage our students to copy and imitate quality recordings as much as possible. I acknowledge there is some risk associated with having a student imitate someone else’s interpretation,...
Read MoreBy Jamey Mann As a private music teacher, I have found that there is no way to have a set lesson plan in place for every student at every age or level. Every 30 minutes to an hour is a new student with differences in, age, learning style, playing ability, and goals. Trying to have a cookie cutter method for all these students just does not...
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