Our Bad Habits Solution..Our Flute New Year's Resolution, Part I
So, you're gung-ho for about a week or two, and then the motivation robber sneaks in, and you begin to find excuses not to practice. So, how do you keep yourself motivated?
*Take lessons. Even teachers often take lessons, like I do, to keep ourselves going. Sometimes, teachers are the worst practice culprits. Besides keeping me motivated to practice, I can also keep up on what's going on in the flute world.
*Allow yourself time to play for fun. Often, music teachers don't play because they get involved with their students' progress and get so caught up in the details of music that they forget to really enjoy it. Students can get so involved in auditions, juries, and music festivals, that they forget why they like to play in the first place. Call a company like Fluteworld, order some solo music with CD accompaniment, or get together with some other musicians, and just have a good, old fashioned jam session. Besides, with all that technique practice you've been doing, your sight-reading skills are a lot better!
*Schedule yourself in some performances, even if it's just playing for church. Nothing works like a time schedule. I've scheduled myself for my first recital in 15 years on January 31 (hint, hint, if you live in the St. Louis or Franklin County, Missouri area!). You're doing something good for someone else, and you're putting yourself on a deadline,which is a good reason to concentrate on your practice!
*During your practice sessions, promise yourself you'll do those lousy chores like laundry after you practice. You'd be amazed how long you keep going...(although, then, there's a new resolution to motivate yourself to do the laundry...)
Here are some links that can give you some ideas and help on that old practice bug:
The Art and Technique of Practice by Richard Provost, a good book to have around. Whenever you feel in a rut, just pick it up for some great ideas!
Larry Krantz has a couple of good sections at his site on practice motivation and reasons for slow practice.
At my own music site (this link leads to my archives), I cover this topic and include some contributions from other people, including Paulie Davis, with her great laundry enticer!
You can also get help and support from the flute lists: Flute Listserv and Flutenet. (The link to Flutenet is to the organizer, who can lead you information on subscribing.)
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