4 Ways to find Time for Practice in your Busy Schedule

In this fast paced world, time management has become the most important skill to have. You may be a working adult or a student learning in school - however, you still have a number of chores to complete every day. By the end of the day, you are completely exhausted and can't assemble any enthusiasm or energy to practice your instrument. So how do you still follow your interest in music in between these exhausting tasks you have in a day? In this blog, we discuss some of the ways you can find time to practice:

1. Start the day with music:

What can be a better way to start your day! Remember the era of walk-mans and Disc-mans? You woke up to songs and somehow you already felt good about the day to unfold. Do the same with your instrument! Think of it like your daily workout. Practice the exercises and drills given to you and by the end of each practice session you will feel like you already have accomplished something in the day and this positiveness will reflect in your attitude throughout your day. With regular practice, you will see progress in your playing really quickly.

2. Stress Reliever:

Having a tiring day? With all the stress, deadlines and burden of expectations you carry at work or school, life is stressful. There is no better stress reliever to this than music. Listen to songs because that also plays an important role in your development. Then just take your instrument and start playing with it, and you will see you get in the mood of practicing it. Take the help of that and start practicing your exercises and if you know a song, end the session with that. You will feel much better about your day and ready for a good night's sleep.

3. Show dedication:

If you are serious about your music, you will find a way to give time to your instrument. May it be an early morning, afternoon or a late night practice, you can always dedicate a certain period of the day to your instrument and make sure you are committed to that. Once you keep doing it, it becomes a habit and practicing your instrument will come very naturally to you. For students, you can use those study breaks to play your instrument which will relax your mindset and as you have heard a lot about how music can enhance your academic performance, it’s time to practice that saying. 

4. Not more than 2 Classes a Week:

It is almost impossible and not advisable to take classes every day. Classes are meant to be a lesson day and you should learn something new every class, however you also must have seen how your mentor starts the class with exercises you have previously taught and then move to the new topics. However you can approach your practice session like the way classes are structured. Go for lessons TWICE a WEEK and then use the days between those lessons to master the exercise giving the same time as your lesson classes. Also you can use the class timings as your practice time of the day. This way you are attending class everyday but in a much more effective manner.

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and  Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. 

The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

5 Reasons Why Practice is Important

A famous quote on practice says “Don’t Practice till you get it Right, Practice till you can’t get it wrong”. It is on this premise that we try to address some of the ways that practice is absolutely essential in making you a better musician and performer.

1. Get Better : One of the most important reason that you should practise is to get better than what your capabilities are at present. Music is such a subject where you have to regularly or very often give time to your instrument so that you acquire the skills you want to achieve. Plan out your routine, and fit in your practice time when it is most comfortable for you. Even 15-30 minutes of regular practice can give improve your skills tremendously than sitting for a single long session just once a week. As most of the skills rely on the muscle memory, all the respective muscles has to be exposed to repetitive exercises until it becomes natural to you.

2. To Have Fun : You can have more fun when you can play things in your instrument and learn to play more complex rhythms or melodies, you need skills which you can only achieve through practice. However, have realistic goals and gradually try to achieve the complexities of music. It takes time but it is worth it in the end. When you can execute complex skills and play some really fun melodies or rhythm, you will start enjoying your instrument much more.

3. Increase Your Knowledge : As you gradually upgrade your skills, you also get more educated about your instrument and begin exploring different styles/genres of music. If you keep committing to your instrument and gradually improve, you will discover a lot of different techniques and learn how to use them in different style of music. Instruments can learned the best when you apply your theory/concepts to practical use. To be able to execute different techniques to your instrument, you must be capable of doing them and there is only one way to be able to achieve that which is ‘practise’.

4. To identify mistakes and improve your skills : One of the most effective ways of practising is to record your practice session. Play it back and identify the parts in which you can do better. Self-evaluation is a vital part of the process. You have to be honest and rectify any mistakes you have been making and/or improve any part that you feel can be better. The more you play your instrument, you will be able to identify more parts that you can improve on and when you set out to make them better, you will see an improvement in how your instrument is sounding.

5. To master your instrument : Everyone who has mastered their instrument has gone through rigorous practice. To be able to get command over your instrument, practice is the only thing that can get you there. Although, you should practice effectively and concentrate on building more skills, it only takes time and your commitment to be able to master the skills in your instrument.

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company that provides Music Education and  Recording Studio services. BlueTimbre also works with schools to provide end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. 

The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

4 Reasons Why Performance is a Vital Part Of Music Education

When you hear ‘Music Education’ or ‘Music Classes’, we automatically think of those complicated music sheets, music theory, warm up exercises and learning to play songs. However, the best motivation you can derive is only through performing the music and techniques you learn.

Based on our experience as musicians and educators, we have listed 4 reasons why Performance is a Vital part of Music Education.

1. Builds Confidence by Tackling Stage Fright

Everyone gets jitters before a show or a performance, it is just about how you handle it. Some can break under the tension while some might thrive under pressure, but one can only feel confident about their performance when they have faced it multiple times. It’s never easy to keep your composure in front of an audience but with numerous performances under your belt, you will get more confidence that will guide you to put out the best of your talent. Learning the instrument is one thing but to handle yourself on stage comes only with experience.

2. Builds Discipline by regular Practice for Performance

It always helps a student when there is a goal for all the practice and hard-work they’ve been doing to learn their instrument. If all the practice sessions lead to nothing, they might not see the use of it, especially the young students. Once they are aware that they must showcase their skill at a performance, they will get more involved with their instrument as nobody wants to put on a bad show in front of people. It will encourage more regular practice and they will learn to execute ideas on their instrument with intent and more concentration.

3.Builds Teamwork by working with Different Band Members

Most of the performances through music schools will be group-based acts. It is very essential to understand the process of playing in a band. The group must act with compatibility, respecting each member’s part in the song to do justice to any song. In a group-based performance, every one of them plays an important part. Everyone in a band should understand their role, do their best and realize the importance of teamwork to get the best performance out of all. Such performances encourage the students to understand teamwork and trusting your band member which, effectively helps you be more informed and well-rehearsed in life.

4. Builds Flexibility by Adapting to Stage Dynamics

Performing on a stage deals with various factors. (For e.g.; A vocalist should know how to use the microphone, A guitarist should understand the volume regulation or tones required, if everyone in a band can hear each other on the stage, etc.) One can be guided through all these musicianship factors, but it is an important learning curve when you first experience it. It is completely different than someone practicing at home or in a jam-room. There are various dynamics to performing on a stage which is crucial in getting the best sound out to the audience. There is no written rule book for this, it can be only learnt by experience through performance.

More often you perform, the more confident you will be in executing your talents in front of an audience. Performances teach you the skills and give you tools to execute all your learning which is one of the most vital part in music education.

So, the next time you see someone performing on a stage, cheer and support them, now you know what is has taken for them to get up there and perform!

BlueTimbre is a unique Music Company with Music Education spaces, Jam Room and Recording studio based out of Whitefield, Bangalore, India. BlueTimbre also provides complete end-to-end Music Education solutions for schools. The BlueTimbre team comes with decades of cumulative experience in running Structured Businesses, Music Curriculum Development, Music Education and Performance.

References : https://yourmusiclessons.com/blog/importance-public-performances/