List, List, List; Always List!

One thing you can do is make a checklist of things to make sure you’re 100% prepared. This would include things like:

• Comfortable playing the piece of music [by myself/with accompaniment]
• Able to play the piece through consistently without stopping
• Met practice goals for the past few weeks/months
• Performed a trial run for friends/family
• Picked out an outfit to wear for the performance
• Had instrument inspected and serviced if needed

If you can’t honestly check off all of the items on the list above (and possibly other things that you’ve added: have you worked on specific techniques, tone, posture, etc.?) then you still have some last-minute cramming to do! Hopefully you can mark all or most of these complete and realize that you can be confident in your ability to prepare for this big milestone in your music career. If you have a lot yet to work on, focus on those one or two main items that you can make the most of in seven days or less, namely playing the piece all of the way through and preparing for the day itself by getting  your instrument and yourself ready with all of the logistics: getting dressed and getting there on time and in one piece.

Ultimately, remember this is your first performance. Strive for your best, not for perfection. No matter how you do, you have space in which to grow and continue having fun. If you’re prepared, I’m positive that you will come out feeling satisfied and accomplished with your performance. also, remember to share this with others who would like to see your hard work come to fruition.

Best of luck!

“I think writer’s block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if you sit down at the keys long enough, sooner or later something will come out.”  — Roy Blount, Jr.

Four pictures in sequence of girl smashing a guitar

Writer’s Block isn’t just about writing. It’s about the creative process, and it can happen with any kind of artist at any skill level. Recognizing Cellist’s Block (let’s run with that) comes with time and experience, and it seems to be more difficult for emerging musicians and artists perhaps because lots of people are overly-critical when they’re first learning something. Impatience is human nature!

Know the signs

At the point I am in my musical development, I can see a creative block coming fairly quickly. The first sign of the imminent is when you begin to start making mistakes on things that you always get right. If your bow hand is normally very comfortable and well balanced but it feels like a wet noodle today, or your tone is usually pretty good yet everything sounds scratchy and thin for some reason, then you’ve got Cellist’s Block.

Part of the problem, or part of the solution

The best advice I can give you is to first try to simply things. I am a big proponent of adding new skills one at a time. So why not take one or two things away to work on a basic skill? For example with the bow hand, take your left hand out of the equation and play some open strings. Try playing open A, D, G, and C with the rhythm of the piece or exercise you’re working on. Then after you get the muscle memory working again, try putting your palm on the shoulder of your cello and mimic the fingering on the body of the cello while you play open strings. This adds a middle step, before you finally add the left hand back.

Easier said than done? Well, nothing’s wrong with taking a break, whether it’s 5 minutes, an hour, or just sleeping on it!

Drawing made from a performance of the J.S. Bach Prelude from Suite No. 1 for Solo Violoncello

I recommend that beginners practice no more than 15 minutes at time. That will go by like nothing! I can hardly eat breakfast in 15 minutes. I do this because we really want to help create good habits. Playing a string instrument uses muscles in ways that we don’t normally in day-to-day life. This will help to prevent injury and promote healthy playing habits. Just like beginning a new exercise routine, you need to start off easy and work your way up. Even as you get to the point of playing longer pieces and practicing more each day, most people recommend taking a 10-15 minute break each hour of practice.

So you your time, body, and mind wisely!

Image from Flickr by gshowman used under a Creative Commons License.

Preparation is key when it comes to practice

One of the funny things about playing an instrument is that the actual part of sitting down to make sound and practice is the bulk of what we do, but there are so many other things that need to be taken care of on a regular basis like instrument care, tuning, bow care, mental and physical preparation, and on and on. Here are my top five tasks to do before you practice, even before your pickup your instrument. I give this advice to any beginning instrumentalist, not just cellists!

#1: Relax!

Most instruments require fine motor skills and precise action to achieve the best possible performance and timbre. Doing a quick mental exercise to relax or simply taking 5 deep breaths will help you prepare your mind and your body for the music you are about to make.

#2: Stretch.

Performing music is basically like being an athlete. Stretching not only helps your muscles perform their best but also helps prevent injuries. For cellists, the back and hands need special care.

#3: Remember your goals.

Have a goal for this week, this month, this semester. Make sure your goals are challenging but within your reach. If you aren’t sure what your goals are and should be, ask your teacher and make sure they give you a clear answer!

#4: Review your lesson notes.

Hopefully your teacher makes notes on what to work on for each piece, scale, or etude. Know what your need to focus on before playing and hit those problem spots before you jump in to play something straight through without proper preparation. If you’re learning on your own, then make sure to stop on challenging parts and notate them so you know to go back and review.

#5: Practice mental perfection

It sounds completely ridiculous and your will probably feel silly the first few times, but it’s 100% true that imagining yourself playing that piece or that scale perfectly before you sit down to do it actually helps. This is a technique used by professional athletes, speakers, performers, and just about anybody who has to do something publicly. If there’s a four-measure phrase that you have trouble with or if it’s getting your bow hand right, practice it in your mind and you will be almost half way there to getting it right.

I hope these tips help you with getting started on your instrument. What preparation- mental or physical- helps you practice or perform?

Photo by  on Flickr used under a Creative Commons license.