Schott Sight Reading Books

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about the series of Sight Reading books from the publisher Schott.

The Sight Reading series from Schott was on my sight reading wish list to get; even though I was hesitant at first. But, these books are a sight reading resource for anyone whose looking to improve on their sight reading skills.

They are filled with loads of sight reading exercises, and I love that these books are broken into manageable sections. You have a array of choice on what you would like to do to improve on your sight reading.

The choices you have are :-

- Solo Practice

- Duetting with the same instrument

- Practicing with a piano part

With Book One you can also start using more or less straight away as soon as start learning alongside your teachers teaching method. As it starts off getting you used to playing your first few notes on your chosen instrument. 

If you are starting off self learning your instrument you can use the first book alongside either the 'Abracadabra' instrument series or 'A New Tune a Day' series for your chosen instrument. I would still highly recommend that you get a music teacher, but I do understand that everyone has different financial circumstances.

Another aspect of this sight reading book series is not only is it available for a range of instruments, but it's also multilingual. Throughout both of these books everything is explained in English, French and Germain, which is a lovely approach to have as its something I don't come across in my sheet music that often.

The aims of this Sight Reading Series are :-

- An approach based upon self learning and recognition of rhythmic and melodic patterns

- Original Tunes not abstract sight reading exercises

- A series of carefully graduated pieces in a range of musical styles

- Divided into sections related to the technical development of the musician

- Tunes progress to encompass a range of key signatures, as well as chromatic, modal and atonal elements

- Each section concludes with duets or accompanied pieces for practice of ensemble sight reading

It's Okay to Have an 'Off' Practice Day

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about having an 'off' practice day, as it does happen. It's also okay to have an 'off' practice day.

We all have days were we aren't feeling ourselves, and the same goes for learning a musical instrument. It's okay to take a step back and not touch your musical instrument for a day or two.

I'm going to talk about ways that you can use to try and overcome an 'off' practice day. These won't always work, as everyone deals with things differently.

Analyse How You are Feeling

Before you even get your instrument out of it's case just ask yourself 'Do I feel up to practicing today?' or 'Can I try and practice with how I'm feeling?'

If you don't feel up to it on that day then it's completely fine, and it's completely 'normal'. This could be due to you not feeling well or that your brain could do with a days rest, as it hasn't quite settled down from your previous days practice; especially if you were doing an intense practice session.

Smaller Practice Session

If you do feel up to practice session then just aim to do 30 minutes, and then see how get on. If you are feeling up to do it, and if you want to do more practice aim to do another 30 minute practice session. Please don't force yourself to aim for the second 30 minutes if you're not up to it. Also, take a break in between each practice session to give your brain a rest.

Just Do the Basics

During your practice sessions just try and focus on the basics on what you need to do. This can be just running through your scales and arpeggios, development exercises, an easy study or just focusing on your exam pieces. Or you might just want to play a couple of fun and easy pieces of music instead of working through any exam material. 

Don't Rush Your Practice

Please don't rush through your practice, especially if your not feeling great. Take your time, as by slowing things down a little bit you will be analyse how you a feeling; and if it starts getting too much you can always put your instrument away.

Create a Relaxing Atmosphere

By creating a relaxing atmosphere whilst you are practicing it might help you to focus a little better. You can do this by using a wax melter and burn one of your favourite scents to help calm you or an electric oil diffuser. Or maybe burn an incense stick/ cone (if your practice space is large enough). 

Take a Day Off

If you really don't feel practicing then just have a day off from practicing, as it could be what you and your body needs at the time. By giving yourself a day off from practicing you can do something else that you enjoy doing such as reading a book, going for a walk and seeing friends and family. Just do something that you enjoy doing to help refocus your brain, and when you come back to practicing your instrument you should in theory feel much better just for taking a day off.

Creating a Dedicated Area for Practicing & Studying

 Hi everyone,

In this I'm going to talk about developing and creating a space that you can use solely for your music practice and studying.

My own personal practice space

This is still quite a new thing for me to have, as I used to practice in a different room in the house and my sheet music was also spread throughout the house due to having so much of it.

The shelves that hold my sheet music have been organised in a certain way, so that I know where all of my sheet music is as each shelf is dedicated to a certain area. There's also an area on the shelves that holds of my music/ cleaning accessories, so that it is in within reach. 

My music stand is also placed in front of the shelves when not in use.

I also have a desk with an all in one printer and scanner, as I haven't long since downloaded an app where I can turn any of my sheet music into digital format so that's easier to import into the app.

Find a Space that is Ideal for Your Practice

This can be using a spare room, making a space within your bedroom, living room or any space that you would feel comfortable in practicing in.

Make Your Practice Space Comfortable

Once you have chosen your practice space then adapt that space to make it really comfortable and inspiring for your musical learning. This could be done by choosing a relaxing colour scheme, adding a few cushions, quotes, ornaments and pictures on the wall. Make it so then you will get the most benefit from your music practice sessions.

Sheet Music Organisation

If you have room then have an area for all of your sheet music, and then organise it so then you know where everything is. This can also work if you're learning multiple instruments, as you can have a shelf dedicated to sheet music for each instrument. If you have the room on your sheet music shelves you can always add small ornaments and bits to add a bit of decoration.

Create an Atmosphere

You can do this by using a tea light wax melter, candles, and oil diffusers. I sometimes have my wax melter burning, as I find it helps to relax me and helps me to focus more. This idea isn't for everyone, as I know not everyone can have fragrances scenting their rooms, due to being sensitive to fragrance.

Since having my own dedicated space to practice and to study I'm finding that I can now focus better, and I love that I can create a relaxing atmosphere by burning a candle or my tea light wax melter. I've also got a small desk with an all in one printer and scanner to enable me to create digital documents. Also, by having my own practice space I'm not disturbed as much.

If you have got the space to create your own practice space then do it, as I've noticed a lot of positive changes in the way that I practice. You can create your practice space to get the most out of your practice needs. Everyone learns differently, so it's important that you tailor your practice/ study space so then you can get the best out of your learning.

Practical Exam Tips

Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to give you some advice so then you can get the best experience from your Practical Music Exams whether you are working through your grades or performance diplomas.

Plan Ahead

Make sure that you buy all of the relevant exam materials a few months prior before you are due to start working on it. That way you can have a good look through the relevant and start choosing pieces that you would like to learn for your exam. It will also enable you to develop a 'back up' plan if you don't fancy learning a piece that you thought you might have liked to learn, but that piece isn't for you. 

Discuss What You Want to Learn with Your Teacher

This is all part of the planning process, and it's so your teacher knows what your plan is for your pieces for your chosen grade/ performance so then they can help to get the best out of you. You can discuss the pieces that you have chosen, listen to the pieces that you have chosen to see if you like them, and change the piece/s out if they aren't for you. You can also discuss any scales, arpeggios and exercises that you will also need to learn for the exam.

Scales & Arpeggios

Get these to sound and flow as secure as you can, and make sure that all of your scales and arpeggios are learnt and perfected in legato, slurred and staccato; and in any other formats that you exam grade requires. Work through these slowly, and this will enable you to make any necessary adjustments to your playing to get them in the best possible shape for the exam. You also need to know all of your required scales and arpeggios "off by heart".

Pieces

It's important that you choose pieces that you will enjoy learning and working towards, as this way you will get the best experience from the exam and all of the preparation that comes before it.

Take Your Time

With your pieces, exercises and scales and arpeggios it's important that you take your time working through them. You will also have a better idea of understanding your chosen pieces once you start breaking them down slowly.

Practice in Smaller Chunks

By practicing in smaller chunks, and breaking everything down into more manageable chunks your brain will be able to focus more. Also, by breaking your pieces down you are also able to spot any ares that will need some extra work to get it to sound and flow better. Take your time working through your pieces, and use slow practice while you are still getting used to the pieces.

Go Exploring

Once you start getting used to your chosen exam pieces, and you feel that they are nice and secure for the moment why don't go exploring with your chosen exam pieces. What I mean by this is experiment by using different tonal colours, dynamics and maybe try the pieces out with the techniques that you are familiar with to make the piece your own. There's nothing wrong with having a bit of creative fun with your exam pieces to see what happens. You may like or may not like what you have come up with, and that's okay; as your just exploring to see what you can do to get something different from the pieces.

Get Your Pieces Secure

Make sure that all of your chosen pieces sound nice and secure, and that flow to the best of your ability. You may need to do some work to get the pieces as refined as you can. But, also make sure that you are happy with how your pieces sound prior to going into the exam.

Hints & Tips

Ask your teacher for any advice that they can give you prior to you sitting the exam, so then you can get the best experience out of the exam experience.

Routine for the Exam

Make sure you are happy with the routine that you have chosen to play for the exam. I would recommend that you practice your exam routine about a month prior to taking the exam, as that way you will be really familiar with the routine and you should feel more comfortable. Also, I would recommend that you run your exam routine through with your teacher about two weeks before you sit the exam, as that way you are both familiar with what each other is doing. You can also ask your teacher any questions on the lead up to the exam to get the best experience.

Most importantly HAVE FUN!!

It's important to have fun along your own personal music journey, especially if you're sitting exams. Sitting exams can be stressful enough, but just as long as you go in prepped, prepared and have fun whilst you are taking the exam it should be an overall good experience. Just throw your all at the exam on the day, and know that you have done all that you can to the best of your ability. 

All the best for your exams

 

Creating a Library for Your Sheet Music

Hi everyone,

In today's post I'm going to be talking about creating a library for your sheet music, so then that way you know where everything is and you know exactly where to look.

This is a recent addition to my own personal practice/ recording space, and I've organised it in a way so I know where everything is. Also, another really nice thing is about this book shelf is that I have now got room to expand my own personal sheet music collection.

I'm going to explain how I've sorted out my sheet music shelves from top to bottom.

Top Shelf

On the top shelf is a small amount of violin/ vocal/ piano sheet music, Trevor Wye Practice Books, compilations of easy to read sheet music, flute tutor methods such as 'A New Tune a Day' and 'Abracadabra', various scales and sight reading books. I also have a small amount of music literature and language books on this shelf.

Second Shelf

This shelf contains all of my flute study books, and these range from compilations of flute studies to flute studies by individual composers such as Andersen, Moyse and Gariboldi. I've also got my portable Bluetooth speaker on this shelf, as it comes in handy for when I want to use it with the TomPlay app.

Third Shelf

This shelf contains all of my flute pieces, and these range from easy to intermediate compilation books, Hal Leonard classic series and the Classical Players series, Disney, and also works by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi and Chopin to name a few.

Bottom Shelf

This shelf contains a bit of mixture as it has the books for Piccolo practice, manuscript paper, Orchestral Excerpts, past exam material, and Music Theory books. There's also a small container that holds all of my cleaning essentials for my flute.

I love how easy it is for me for find exactly what it is that I'm looking for within my own personal sheet music collection, and this is with a small space.

If you are struggling to organise your sheet music try and see if you find a small space that would be suitable for organising your sheet music. It could even be just using a shelf or two, and use magazine files to help you to categorise your collection or small book shelf with the correct height and depth. The height of my shelves are the size of A4 plus one inch with a depth of 30cm to give you an idea on what you may need.

If you are learning multiple instruments you may want to do something similar to what have, but dedicate a shelf to each instrument to keep everything together.

This is just what I have decided to do with my own personal sheet music collection, and I know not everyone has a spare area to keep their sheet music organised. I've always tried to have some sort of organisation system in place, as I literally had a small square shelf in my other bedroom and I had to use magazine files to sort it to the best of my ability. I had to keep some of it in under bed boxes, as I had no room for all of it.

If you do want to organise your sheet music, but you're not sure then just start with a small space (if possible), and then take it from there. I would also recommend doing this, as it will also keep your sheet music in good condition.

 

Having an 'Off' Day

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about having an 'off' day in general, as it happens to all of us at some point. This could be due to just generally not feeling yourself, or you could be under the weather. It could also be that you could just do with a break away from things.

It's Okay to Have an 'Off' Day

We all experience having an 'off' day, and it's okay to have an 'off' day. These could be due to a number of reasons such as your general health, mental health or just waking up and feeling rubbish. 

Take Time Out from Doing Your Usual Routine

Try and tackle your 'off' day by doing something enjoyable, but do something that you wouldn't usually have time to do. This could be reading a book, going for walk, having a go at a new arts and crafts activity, go and explore outside your local area, easy exercises or yoga. You can also just have a nice and easy chill day to see if that might help.

Explore a New Music Genre

Listen to a genre of music that you're not familiar with or go an explore a composer that isn't familiar to you. You might not take to it straight away, but you might appreciate it later on. But, if you are musical and you enjoy listening to or learning a musical instrument it may come in handy somewhere down the line. Everyone has different music preferences, but its always nice to occasionally to go out and explore around those musical preferences.

Read a Book

If you enjoy reading and you haven't read for a while then take out a book that you have enjoyed reading in the past, and start reading it again. Or, you could always treat yourself to a new book from an author that you have never read anything from.

Make Your Favourite Beverage

If you fancy settling down with a book you might want to make your favourite non alcoholic beverage to go with it. This could be a making a latte using your coffee machine, a flavoured hot chocolate, a new flavour tea or just a good old 'English Breakfast' tea. Whatever is taking your fancy, and you have got the stuff in to make the beverage. Just make it, as it might make you feel a lot better.

Going for a Walk

This one might do you a world of good, as its getting you out of the house for a little bit. If you do decide to go for a walk, you may decide to do a local walking trail or go and visit a local park. Also, you may want to go just slightly out of your local area. If you do decide to go slightly outside your local area please make sure that you are familiar with the area that you are going, and that you are familiar with the safest routes to get back home safely. Also, make sure that you are prepared for your walk by taking a bottle or two of water and something to eat. Make sure that you are prepared with the correct clothes for that season. 

If you are having an 'off' day just remember that it's okay to have an 'off' day. Take time out for yourself to help you to back to your usual self. If you are having an 'off' day and you put yourself first, please remember that you aren't being selfish towards other people; but you are doing something for you to get yourself out of this 'rut' that you're in. There's nothing wrong with putting yourself and your overall wellbeing first, as you know your own body and mind.

Dealing with a Tricky Piece/ Passage

 Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to be talking about how to deal with a tricky piece/ passage.

There's loads of different reasons that musicians and people who are learning a musical instrument struggle with difficult pieces/ passages. It could be that you are just starting out on your journey into learning a musical instrument, or that you have been a hard piece to learn with lots of tricky spots and you are little unsure on how tackle them.

I'm going to give you a few tips that I have picked up throughout my own musical journey.

Identify the Tricky Areas before you Start to Practice

What I mean by this is going through the piece and using brackets to identify all of the tricky spots using a pencil. Also, you can also go through and identify any tricky fingers placements or any other areas that my give you a bit of trouble. 

Break the Passage Up

Once you have figured out all of your tricky spots then choose one to focus on. It could be just a bar or it could go over multiple bars depending how long the passage is that you have identified as being tricky. If it's just a bar or two focus on that, and take your time with it. Practice it slowly using just legato, and see how you get on. Once it becomes a little easier you can then start to add in the articulation and any directions. If the passage is over multiple bars you might find it more manageable to divide the passage up into smaller chunks to make it easier to go in. Just work through the bars slowly using legato, and then slowly start adding a bar at a time. If it's still proving difficult to figure you might to go back and re-identify the really tricky spots that you may not have noticed the first time around.

Slow Legato Practice

When working through either a tricky piece/ passage it's important to not only break the piece/ passage up into more manageable chunks, but to also practice the piece/ passage slowly and using only legato. This will help you get used to what you're hearing, and you can also figure out what your fingers are doing. Also, by practicing slowly you can pick up anything mistakes early on.

Take Your Time

It's important that you take your working through any tricky passages/ pieces, as you will then spot any areas that will need improving further down the line. You can also slowly figure out any articulation and directions once you feel comfortable that you have got the tricky piece/ passage in a place where you are happy.

Benefits of Slow Practice

Hi everyone,

In this post I'm going to talk about the benefits of doing slow music practice.

I have the benefits of 'slow music practice' drilled into loads over the years by my current music teacher; and this method of practicing actually works.

By practicing your musical slowly, it will enable you to :-

- Figure out where you are going wrong within the pieces you are learning

- Focus on any tricky spots/ passages

- Improve on where you place you fingers

- Hear where you are going wrong

- Break up the pieces you are working on into smaller chunks

- Figure out any articulation

- Problem spots

When I first start working on a new piece with piece with my teacher; the first thing we focus on is the notes. But, even this gets broken down into smaller manageable chucks; and we work through the entire piece this way. Once all of the notes are sounding nice and secure, we then start to focus on the articulation within the piece, and again this gets broken down into more manageable sections. Once the notes and articulation are sounding secure, we then finish off by focusing on the dynamics using the same method. Once everything has been worked through its then usually a case of just refining the piece. This way of learning can take months, so you do you need quite a bit patience with it.

When I practice my flute at home sometimes things don't always go according to plan, and that's okay. I work on the spots that I'm currently struggling with at the time, or if this there's a tricky passage I will break it down and just work on smaller chunks until I get it. This could take anything from a day or two to figure or a number of weeks/ months. 

Even when I do break down my piece/s into smaller chunks I will stumble across areas that need more work than others, as other areas are sounding more secure than others. I occasionally have an 'off' tone day, and with slow practice I will try and figure why either my tone is off, or why is a particular note not sounding as it should.

By using slow practice it will enable you to isolate, and work on any tricky areas; figure out where you are going wrong with your technique and articulation to help you to improve on it. It also gives you room to think about what you are trying to achieve without overwhelming yourself. There's so many different reasons why practicing slowly is so beneficial.