Let's jump into valuable information that could assist you.
Practice
1) Practise sparingly, use your time for other essential things. If you still feel the need to practise, do it a day before your lesson. Or better still, just 10 minutes before your lesson. Some of you might play better without practising. Take that chance, keep things interesting.
2) If you have a recital/exam coming up, don't start work until it's too late. It's stressful, but that's ok. Human beings perform best under pressure.
3) If you have a bad performing experience- it's absolutely okay. There's always a next time. Don't think about it.
4) Avoid recording yourself at all costs. Remember how it feels to hear your own voice in a video? (pro tip: ignore your teacher's feedback as well)
5) Einstein failed math in school*. If you are bad at something now, you will not be bad at it in the future.
6) The internet is a beautiful place. If you feel like playing music, go on the internet and search for how you can make the most of your time. Abraham Lincoln said, "If I have 8 hours to chop a tree, I'll spend 7 hours sharpening my axe". 7 hours of research, 1 hour of sharp practice. But Lincoln was not a musician. You don't really need to practice for one hour.
7) Music practice needs to feel good and exciting at all times. Feel the vibes.
*(Source: WhatsApp)
Habits
1) If you're using printed sheets, you're probably not aware of global warming. Read music from your phone screen like many others. Yes, it might cause eye strain, but you can always zoom in and scroll the pages as and when needed. This is better for the environment.
2) Music is a very personal thing. This is why when someone asks you to play something for them, gracefully shy away, or tell them you haven't warmed up, or you haven't been practising. which is all very true. You can also just refuse to play. This showcases your strong personality. If they insist, send them a video of you playing at your last recital. Remember, you feel very comfortable playing at home for yourself. That is how it always should be. Music blossoms in isolation.
3) Ask your teacher constantly when you will reach grade 8. This shows ambition. There is no greater honour for a musician than a graded certificate. A certificate ensures that you are a skilled and talented musician.
4) Trust your impulses. If you feel like learning Moonlight Sonata in one day, you can. Have faith in your abilities. Remember what Beethoven said: Impossible Is Nothing*.
5) Make use of social media to the fullest. If you are in school, ask your parents to get you the latest iPhone/iPad, or anything that is trending. Companies like Meta, Twitter(now X), and Google have their best talents to keep you entertained for hours. Be resourceful.
*(Source: WhatsApp)
Practical Tips:
1) Whenever your teacher asks you 'What did you practise last week?', try avoiding the answer. Test if they can find it out for themselves. You can use these phrases
'I had a really busy week'
'I have no time to practice between so many classes' or
'I don't remember'.
or just say 'I practiced everything' and see how things go.
2) If possible, try to show up late for class. If you're late by 10 minutes, that's a 10-minute break for your teacher. They will really appreciate this, especially if they are having a long workday. If they really want to, they can extend your class to make up for the lost time.
3) If you are unable to attend class for some reason, do not inform your teacher beforehand. The thrill of you possibly not attending class gives them a rush. Then ask for a make-up class anyway.
4) If you have good communication skills, talk to your teacher to distract them. Ask them about random stuff like the weather, and politics. OR- start talking about something that they might be interested in. Use words like harmony, music theory, and equal temperament. If that does not work, try asking them about their week.
5) You already pay for your music lessons, try to save money by using a cheaper instrument. Once you get better, you can upgrade. Invest your hard-earned money elsewhere- try Crypto.
6) If you have to play with another musician- make sure you show them that you're not happy with the situation. They might give up first. Piano duets and trios are just a way for the teacher to club some lessons together.
7) If you miss a lesson, make sure you get a lesson made up immediately. A gentle reminder twice a week works wonders. Teachers can be forgetful and appreciate being reminded about makeup lessons- it showcases your responsibility and awareness.
8) Try to avoid participating in extra activities arranged by your teacher. They are just trying to promote their studio by arranging events, and not like you'll benefit from it.
9) Avoid listening to music. Especially old music that your teacher suggested. You don't need an external source to find musical inspiration.
10) Do not write down homework. You'll remember it. If the teacher still insists, tell them you'll write it later, at home. But don't.
11) Some teachers have an unhealthy obsession with counting. If they ask you to count, act confused. This is not a math class.
Some Thoughts on Musicality:
1) Compare yourself to others, and how they are doing much better even though they started with/after you.
2) When someone plays better than you do, reflect on how life can be really unfair. But not for long, you don't want to reflect too much on your playing.
3) CONSTANTLY ask your teacher why is everything the way it is. Example "Why is this B flat and not A sharp?" "Why should I use this finger for this scale", "Why should I practise?" etc. It's possible that your teacher overlooked some details, or even more likely, they could be wrong. Try doing something new each time. Reinvent the wheel, and stay motivated!
Hilarious!🤣