Workshop Idea: Practice Logbooks

Recently, I was browsing through a book called “Making Music for the Joy of It,” by Stephanie Judy. I was looking through the chapter on practicing, because I was looking for a little inspiration to get my personal practice to the next level. In this chapter, I found a really great tool to help me create better and more focused practice sessions: The Musical Logbook. After I read the chapter, I went to Staples and bought all the supplies to make one, and I have been using it daily for the past 2 weeks. I have to say, my type A personality loves this kind of structure. I thought it would make a fun activity for group workshops with students. There are many opportunities for creativity, and I think making your own individualized logbook inspires you to actually use it and can possibly get you excited to practice. Here is what’s inside:

SUPPLIES: 

3 Ring Binder

Sheet Protectors

Folders with 3 holes

3 Hole Punch

 Dividers

Loose Leaf Paper

WHAT TO DO:

The purpose of the logbook is to keep track of what you are actually doing in your practice and to help you focus in on what your goals are. I find this helps me to make the most of my time. Knowing what I have accomplished, seeing my improvements on paper, and knowing what I want to work on keeps me from wasting time. The binder should be divided into a few sections. I have the following sections: Goals, Daily Log, Journal, Tips, Folders for Handouts and Exercises, and because I am a singer and personal style is important, I even have a section for fashion magazine tear outs. This give me some references if I am in need of a look for a special performance. Here are the details on the sections:

GOALS:

Pretty self explanatory here. Every few days, I add a goal or two to the list, and I look at it each time I practice. Some examples of goals for me are increase breath control, learn how to play a blues riff on the guitar, fine tune starting pitches on vocal songs.

DAILY LOG:

This is where I keep track of the actual practice. This is like a time sheet for myself. I note the start time and write down whatever it is I work on and write the end time once it’s time to move on to a different focus. Usually I start with warmups, so my first log is usually something like “10:30-10:45 Vocal Warm Ups.” Then I will usually start a song, so the next item says “10:45-11:15 ‘Name of Song.'” This allows me to see exactly how long I am practicing each day and how effective my practice is. Also- having a written log makes me feel competitive with myself! I like to see how much I can accomplish.

JOURNAL:

Here is where I jot down some thoughts after I am done with practice. If I feel frustrated about a lack of progress in a certain area, or if I feel like I am improving somewhere else, it goes here.

TIPS:

If I make a discovery about myself,like “Imagining a line slanted upward helps to keep my long notes in tune,” then I write it down here. The hope is that by the time I fill up several pages, I have created my own personalized instruction manual.

FOLDERS:

In these folders I keep lyric sheets, diction sheets, loose sheet music.

SHEET PROTECTORS:

You could use these for whatever, but I like to use them for photos. Anytime I see an inspiring photo in a magazine, I tear it out and stick it in a sheet protector. I put mostly fashion photos for hair and makeup and costume ideas, but if your thing is dance or martial arts, you could always put photos of performers and athletes who inspire you.

Obviously, these ideas are geared to the music student, but I hope you will take them as inspiration for what could be a really fun group activity!