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

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

So far?

A month and a half of lessons.

Has it been FUN?

Have you noticed a difference?

Has your teacher noticed a difference?

Can you check in to see if you are happier with your playing?

Is there a new piece you can play since resuming in September?

Do you still need to try to do some work every day?

Do you need to focus in on the hard bits more?

We've got the ball rolling again.

It would be a shame to lose some ground over the holiday.

I ask loads of questions, I know. You could send me one, too, remember. Hz

7 days a week

We all know that the idea is to do some practising each day.

That's 7 lovely times each week!

Instead of watching that clock tick round closer to your finish time

what we are aiming at is for -

THE POWER OF MUSIC TO TAKE OVER

and for you to start looking forward to these times.

Think of it - no more moaning!

Wouldn't that be wonderful! 

It could happen to you.

You might find yourself working beyond your recommended minutes or hours.

Come on - start today! Hz

Right now!

Well, of course your teacher's not happy!

Think of their day.

Listening to all the students who did nothing all Summer.

AND all those terrible excuses!

Must be the worst week of the year for them.

Your new routine looks like fun.

When are you going to start?

What do you mean tomorrow!

What's wrong with today?

Or even right now?

Go on! Run it past me. Hz

Little and often

Good to hear you trying that piece again.

It's sounding better, isn't it?

It's growing on me now that I recognize it.

Of course your back aches - look at that strange posture!

Fingers, too? Go gently first.

Little and often. 

Does that instrument need tuning, fixing, a spare part?

Your friendly music shop awaits.

And what about your other piece?

See, I found your crumpled up "To do" list when I was behind the piano!

Love, Hz

Haunting

I know. You have an odd feeling in your stomach aka accumulating guilt.

After 2 months without lifting a finger, it's a bit late to be creating instant wonders.

But you could do something instead of nothing, prepare a bit for that lesson.

You could have a practise session now. 

Yes, right now!

And you could have another later this evening.

Take a chance on it. 

Double up for the next few days.

All over the land, I hear the haunting sound of lonely instruments crying.

They are longing to be played.

Listening out for you. Hz

Ten

Ten things to do this weekend.

TEN!! 

Ten is such a great number.

I know, I'm SO pushy.

1. Go to your instrument.
   
2. Close the door.
3. Warm up with a few minutes of free play.
4. Try a few smooth scales or patterns.
5. Try part of the piece you were given - maybe 2 or 3 lines.
6. Slow it down and try it again.
7. Notice where your bad bits are. YES, those bits that you keep missing out, that sound like note graffiti, the bits that make the cat's hair stand on end. You know the bits.
8. Stop getting grumpy.
9. Try them even slower, maybe 5 times each.
10. STOP playing the piece in the right order every time.
    

I'm going to shout that one again -

STOP PLAYING THE PIECE IN THE RIGHT ORDER EVERY TIME.

WHY? 

Because that is called playing. 

It's not going to solve the nightmare in bar 18.

It might also drive your family/housemate/pets to leave home.

Trust me.

Hey! We've begun.

See you tomorrow? Hz

Try it

Pleased you came back.

I hate it when we fall out.

How about we open that case?

Check if that instrument still works?

I know it might sound terrible.

Run it past me.

I promise not to fly out of the room.

Try it.

After 3, take it away!

Hmmm.......interesting.

Should we try it again soon? Hz

Are you avoiding me?

Good dusting.

Pity you went away again so soon.

Thought you might have opened up that case while you were at it.

Saw there's a lesson booked on the calendar.

Been practising in secret?

Got that piece ready for your teacher?

Who are you calling a nosey old beetle?

When you slam that door, all the piano strings hum.

It's the best music I've heard since June.

Might be better than what I heard in June.

See you before the weekend? Hz

Dust

Been quiet round here lately.

Been quiet for weeks.

Noticed they turned the calendar today.

I like the new picture, especially seen from up close.

1st September.

The new term looms!

Is that a layer of dust I see on your instrument case?

There's a duster in the under-the-sink cupboard.

Go on.

I dare you.

Missing you, Hz