Spring!
Happy Spring! It’s been a long winter here in Wisconsin. Not particularly snowy this year, but there have been plenty of cold, cloudy, windy days. Seeing the first robin of the season this week filled me with delight. And it also generated some ideas for practice. I don’t see all of my students for lessons during their spring breaks, but I encourage them to connect to some equinox energy. I try to do that too.
How do you practice during spring break?
I like to continue with daily practice, but change it up a bit. Here are a few ideas my students and I are playing with:
Create an audio or visual piece to accompany a piece in progress incorporating elements from the outdoors. Make a video, collage, take photos, or compose something new inspired by the change in season. Let it be a work in progress you continue to work on throughout your break time.
Record a piece you’re working on and share it with a friend or family member, or post it to social media.
“Feather your nest.” Look at the space where you do most of your practicing. Could it use a little spring cleaning? Tidy up, add a new pencil or two, maybe a cushion for the piano bench? Adjust your lighting and straighten up your music books.
Plan ahead. What pieces would you like to learn in this new season? What pieces are you preparing for performance? Find a bit of time to evaluate where things are at in your practice plan.
Nurture new growth. Take a day to enjoy just playing scales, technical exercises, and etudes. Take all the time you need to feel into your fingers, hands, and body when you are focus on connecting with the keys. Listen to your tone. Practice various tempos, articulations, and dynamics.
Get outside! Most of us can’t bring our pianos outside, but if you have a portable keyboard, why not? And make it a priority to get outside without your piano, feel the sun on your face and breathe in all the smells of spring. Hum, sing, run, walk or skip. Look for robins! Come back refreshed.
How are you practicing this spring? Have you practiced yet today?