I am happy to introduce you to my new favorite composer, Gabriel Kahane. Mr. Kahane has collaborated with Rufus Wainwright and Sufjan Stevens (amongst many others.) He's also been commissioned to do some really cool pieces too. Oh, and here's the link to his wikipedia page, so you can read up on him.
Take a few minutes to peruse the collection of his interview videos with Classical Chops...
Gabriel Kahane's 2011 release: Where Are The Arms
His pieces are gorgeous and complex - I just love music that has substance with layers like an onion.
Craigslistlieder
You can even download his album "Craigslistlieder" for FREE! It's a pretty brilliant collection of songs written with lyrics made from anonymous Craigslist ads. Pretty hilarious and beautiful at the same time.
Here's my favorite track from that collection...
We all have days when we need to make our practice really count more than other days. You may be racing the clock and have to pick up the kids from school, need to make dinner, respond to all those emails... The list goes on and on.
Believe me I've heard it all and know my own list of excuses like the back of my bow hold. Here are a few tips and tricks I've learned from my own practice sessions. (Now, to follow my own advice...) ;)
- Write down your top 3 goals. Seriously, get a pencil and write down specific and measurable goals for just this one practice session. Do you want to play through that tough spot 10 times "successfully?" Zone in on that Ab major scale? Master that one booger of a shift? Write it down.
- Set an alarm. You'll be able to devote more focus and less worry. How much time do you have to dedicate to practice today? 10 minutes? 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45? By setting an alarm, you'll be eliminating the distraction of feeling the need to check your clock (or your phone - which seeing those notifications could derail the whole practice session!)
- Warm up & stretch out. This ensures that our body is really ready to get to work. Go through scales. Play slow open strings while really focusing on the way it feels to play your instrument today. Some of my students have even reported that it helps to walk around their block.
- Take a deep breath. Really sense the air filling your lungs and release all the excess tension and stress you've built up (probably due to a lack of time!) Rest easy that you've carved out and made the following amount of time sacred. Leave worry outside of this period of time. Let yourself worry about it once you're done practicing.
- Turn off all ringers/beeps and distractions. There is no such thing as a facebook emerency. Twitter can wait. So can your emails. I've even been known to totally turn off my phone and computer, so there's no chance of an easy and quick way out of practicing.
- Use your pencil! You guys! If you don't write it down, your brain feels responsible for retaining that information. Every time! If you're always missing that one shift, notate it. If you forget that it's a 2nd finger, not 3rd finger during that one measure, notate it. If you forget the bowings, NOTATE IT! Writing it down takes less time than you think and it truly helps.
- Take a break & check in with yourself. When you "get into the zone," sometimes we forget to ask our hands how they're doing. Are you curling your toes? Is your back straight? Take another deep breath. Take a sip of water. Do you need to go to the bathroom? Need a granola bar? Check in with yourself and give yourself the gift of space.
- SLOW first. This is a tough one, especially if we feel our practice time is running out. But everything you play during a power-practice session should be played slowly at first and mindfully always. Take my word for it: the slower, the better. You can always play it fast later.
- Set your timer. Pick a phrase that needs a medium amount of work. Set your timer to 2-5 minutes. Repeat the designated phrase as many times as you can until the time runs out. Most of my students are always shocked by how many times they can play it!
- Cool down & stretch. This is a great way to ramp down from an intense practice session. It gets our mind adjusted to the outside world again. Prepare yourself to encounter all those emails. Relish in the notion that you really did accomplish something productive today. Did you reach the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the practice session? I think you'll be surprised.
Do you have any other time-saving practice tips to share? Any personal experiences with the ones I've already listed?
Happy Practicing!
I perused the interwebs and found you some gems... Take a look below.
In this artistshousemusic.org interview, Mia Olson, a Professor of Woodwinds at Berklee College of Music, discusses her practice of yoga, the Yoga For Students class that she teaches, and the benefits that students report from taking the class.
In this second artistshousemusic.org interview, Mia Olson, a Professor of Woodwinds at Berklee College of Music, discusses the benefits that musicians can gain from practicing yoga, and describes how to find a yoga style that's right for you.
Simple yoga exercises to stretch and relax the shoulders, warm up the muscles and nerves of the hands and improve core strength after long practice periods. Yoga With Fatima: phillyyogaclasses.com
Yoga Stretches & Positions for Guitarists (and Cellists!)
Here I am, crawling out of the abyss I not-so-lovingly refer to as "The Double Ear Infection Flu of 2013." That was a doozey... and time did not stop for this monster of a virus, because it's already that time of the month for you to RSVP to April's Celloship of the Ring. And this one's gonna be a good one! Yay!
YOGA!!!
I'm happy to announce that my favorite non-profit yoga studio, Samdhana-Karana Yoga is providing their core teaching staff to help us understand how yoga might be just the perfect thing to pair with the cello. I even hear rumors of the cello being used as a (gentle) yoga prop.
Yoga teachers Pamela Higley & Kate Fontana will reveal how yogic philosophy and movement just might enrich our performances and cello practice experiences. Please wear comfortable clothes. Don't forget your rockstop. And if you have a yoga mat hanging around, feel free to bring that too.
- 2 Times to choose from: April 13th 2-4pm at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Seattle OR April 14th 2-4pm at the Tacoma Studio location aka "My House"
- Who: Anyone curious about how the cello could ever be integrated with yoga...
- Cost: $10 for non-studio members (Please send me an email to reserve your spot.)
- Here's the Facebook event.
Remember, if you are a current studio member please RSVP (either way, "Yes" via studio calendar or "Not this time" via email) so I don't freak out when I haven't heard from you.
See you there! Namaste.
At our phenomenal Celloship last Saturday, Math was our subject, and as you might guess, we discussed a lot more than that.
The beautiful and astonishing Evelyn Glennie came up in our mathematical conversation. (Watch her profile below...)
and I promised I would post her TEDtalk video, seen below...
Enjoy! & this week, aim to do more intentional listening to the sounds and vibrations around you!
