back-to-school
Back-to-school also means back-to-harp (or whatever your instrument) lessons! But sometimes after a long, or even short break, we can feel a bit lost, confused, frustrated, and unsure of where to pick back up again. While I recommend seeking a teacher to help advise with what pieces or tunes to start learning, here are some tips to get back into practicing efficiently.
Use and befriend your metronome
Even if you just clap along with it, to get back into the swing of things (no pun intended 😂)
Start with what you already know
They say to make your bed first thing in the morning for a sense of accomplishment - this is the same idea. Start with some scales (hands separately) or arpeggios and then move on to some of your favorite pieces from your repertoire.
Start a new practice journal
I don’t know about you, but there are few things in this world as inspiring as a brand new journal for me. Some important things to log in your practice journal include; lesson notes, your mood, any tension in your body (or pain if you are coming back from an injury), what would you like to realistically accomplish in the session, what you actually accomplished, how much time did you practice?
Listen to new music
Spend sometime before your first practice session back listening to some new music. You can search Youtube/spotify/apple music or perhaps even your own CD collection for inspiration. Start to listen (critically) with your practice journal at your side and jot down your thoughts on various songs. What do you like/don’t like? What instruments do you hear? Could this sound good on the harp? If you are more advanced in ear training think about the chord structures and progressions, and try to teach yourself the melody on the harp.
I hope these ideas give you some motivation for your upcoming harp lesson!
🖤 michelle