When asked about his practice routine, Brian said, "The most “routine” part of my practice is the first hour of each day, where I focus on warming up the muscles, playing scales/arpeggios, doing exercises for ease of shifting/vibrato, double stops, speed exercises…basically ”maintaining the hygiene” of playing my instrument.
"What follows is usually determined by whatever project(s) I am working on, and organized by priority of difficulty/deadline. I will sometimes have three or four different projects, some orchestral, some chamber music, and some solo music. The challenge is finding time for all of it. With other work/life obligations, sometimes this means practicing late at night or when I might not feel the most excited about practicing.
"The amount of practice must sometimes change. For example, in college, I could regularly practice 4-6 hours a day in addition to other rehearsals, but I couldn’t do that amount now with schedule demands. Maintaining my cello “hygiene” and professional consistency remain top priorities, and of course, practicing music that I love too. I tell my younger students, that life has a way of getting busier: it will never be easier to practice than RIGHT NOW! And it's true!"
Brian is busy practicing alone, rehearsing with ensembles, performing, teaching, and running the school. How does he manage it all? He's had some experience with hectic schedules. He offers musicians of all ages some great advice!
Prioritize your health. This is probably the most important thing for a long and successful career in music.
Protect your time. There are always distractions, projects, people, environments, and more competing for your attention. Learn how to protect your valuable, productive time, and to say no to things.
Prioritize daily practice. The time you spend practicing daily may vary depending on your instrument and professional goals. For example, string and keyboard players can typically play for many more hours daily than brass players. Consistency is the most important thing. Remember that practicing an instrument is not a skill that can be “crammed”; in fact, trying to do so can lead to injury. If in doubt, ask your teacher for advice about how to plan/structure your practice time to include a balance of warm-up, technique, repertoire, and simulated performance.
Prioritize ensemble playing as well as solo music. You will develop crucial performance skills like listening/balancing/intonation, and make important social connections that will continue to shape your life throughout a music career.
Study a language or three. Italian, French, German, and Spanish are especially useful for a career in classical music.
Put yourself out there. Even if you doubt yourself (we all do at some point) it's important to push through this and play in public. It's easiest to start with friendly audiences like family, church, and retirement communities, then take the audition, sign up for the competition, and attend the summer music camp. Get out there and get active.
Before attending music school, get a handle on the basics. Study some music theory, aural skills, sight-singing, music history, and world music traditions, and maybe even try writing some music. This will serve you well in college and beyond.
Find a mentor who inspires you. Several teachers were such important influences for me that I still think about them daily when I play music. Their support and belief in me also opened doors I didn’t even know existed!
This is great advice that musicians may want to refer back to regularly.
Comments