A week of....

Chopin.

Celebrations in his native Poland.

200 years since he was born.

There is disagreement about his actual birth date.

So, they are holding a WEEK long performance.

It covers both the suspected dates.

Day and night you can hear his piano music.

Which has got me thinking.

Do you have an exam or performance soon?

How about a week of YOUR music?

Think of it, playing those pieces whenever you get the chance?

Maybe not the same ones all day AND night. Hz

Lighter

Hey, have you noticed?

Yes, I'm happier this week!

There's more daylight.

It's lighter when you come home.

I can even see across the room at breakfast time!

So, how about doing some practising before you get tired?

Before the lights have to go on.

Before you snuggle up in front of the fire.

Before you decide to leave it until tomorrow.

Go on. Do some today.

And tomorrow, of course. I'm such a slave driver. Hz

Little notebook

Some people are great at remembering things.

They know exactly what their teacher asked them to work on.

Others are useless at remembering things.

They use it as an excuse to work on nothing all week.

Which kind of person are you?

Hmmmm. I thought so.

Why not buy a little notebook?

Ask your teacher to write your homework in it each week.

Read it before you start each practise session.

And try to do everything on the list.

Remember to take it to each lesson.

Let me know if it works for you. Hz

Commitment is.....

Commitment is - practising your instrument every day.

Then, walking 2 miles through snow and ice to get to your lesson.

AND, playing wonderful work when you got there.

Music to my ears!!

Bravo if you did that this week.

All that work has paid off.

Your music is sounding great.

You feel so happy about it.

I love hearing it.

And even your teacher was smiling.

Then you had to walk 2 miles home after dark in the snow and ice.

That is real commitment. Love, Hz

When does the fun start?

Snow has made the town grind to a halt this week.

Everyone has been having fun sliding down hills.

We work hard to climb up the hill so we can have fun whizzing down.

Now, imagine dragging all your family and friends on a sledge UP a mountain.

Tough work and you might not make it.

Why would we choose to make things SO hard?

When we put off our practising for another day

we make it so much harder to get going again.

When we work little and often at something each day

we really do see things progressing and that's when the fun can start.

Brrrrrrr.......time for a spin. Keep warm. Hz

Just do it now

Why do you avoid it?

You always put off your practising.

You say you'll do it later.

After watching tv.

After chores.

Then it gets too late.

You say you'll double up tomorrow.

You say you'll do lots of work at the weekend instead.

And then tomorrow or at the weekend you say the same.

How about you stop making excuses and JUST DO IT NOW?

Little and often works best. Just do that. Hz

That new leaf

You know that new leaf I mentioned?

Well, here it is, come on and turn it over.

Shake last year's rain from it.

And look ahead into the New Year of 2010.

Imagine.....

YOU, practising every day.

No moaning, no grumbles, no excuses.

I know it's hard to believe.

365 days

But I know you can do it, starting in the morning.

Not too early! HAPPY NEW YEAR. Love, Hz

Check in

How did your practising go in 2009?

Come on, I heard how it went, so own up!

• Every day? I LOVE YOU!!!
• Three times a week? Well done, but can we double up?
• Only the night before your lesson? The stress is killing me.
• Once in a blue moon? Can you try doing 10 minutes a day?
• Never? Aghhhh!! Do we need to talk?

Better that's out of the way.

How about we try turning over a new leaf in 2010?

Day one is coming up!!

Go on - give that instrument a play. Hz

Don't let the holiday stop you

The holiday is nearly here!

So, remember the Summer holiday?

When you left your instrument alone and unplayed.

When the dust accumulated.

When you forgot most of what you had learnt.

This holiday, you could try doing it differently.

By trying to continue your daily practising?

It doesn't have to be a chore.

You might look forward to an hour away from the tv.

You might even enjoy it.

Let me know if you give it a try. Hz

Playful

It's good to warm up before tackling full on work.

Fingers have a chance to limber up.

Your brain has time to switch into the right mode.

Why not try some free playing where anything goes?

Free improvisation.

Some people call it doodling.

Imagine you are drawing with notes instead of a pen.

Long notes, bits of scales or patterns.

Highs and lows, playful calls and rumbles.

Just forget about trying and PLAY!!

Remember to put the cat out if you really want to let rip! Hz

Get into the groove

This might sound like a radical idea to some people, but -

How about practising every day for a week?

Making sure you do good work.

Missing no days for any reason.

Think how much work you will achieve.

While you are at it, how about you keep going?

For a month.

Or a year

Or even forever.

Making it a part of every day builds great momentum.

It is also what musicians do. Hz