3 tips to help you Get Motivated & Stay Motivated when it comes to Progress in Musicianship for you or your child...

1. Plan your Practice:  "To fail to Plan is to plan to Fail".  Ok, so we've all heard that saying, but we sometimes think it only applies to our budget or maybe some big upcoming event... but it really applies to every aspect of our lives.  It can feel overwhelming but just like budgeting your finances helps you reach specific goals, budgeting your time has the same benefit.  If you just think to yourself, "I'll practice when I feel like it, or when I'm less busy or when I get a chance sometime this week." It's pretty likely in today's fast pace world that your time will quickly get snatched up and you'll look back on the week and wonder where the time went! One way I help detour that from happening in my life is to simply block out time at the beginning of each week in a simple week-at-a-glance notepad and copy to my phone so that I have reminders of my priorities.  That way my plan can be flexible each week depending on the activities I must attend, but not so vague that I end my week without spending focused time on the progress I truly hope to gain toward my dream goals. 

2. Success Motivates: Have you ever started a diet and after a few days with no results given up?  On the other hand, have you started a diet and after a few days saw even minimal results of the loss of a pound or two? When that happens, it's exciting, you feel and see progress and it makes you want to keep going.  Progress itself is a strong motivator.  To apply that to musicianship, take on small chunks of the piece you are learning or a skill you are hoping to master.  An easy way to track progress is to record yourself on your phone when you first take on the skill, concept or piece, then as you work on it, record and listen back.  It's exciting to start from scratch and with just a little effort see you are progressing.  Humanity is so incredible in that we can always learn, so don't sell yourself short. 

3. Share Your Dream Journey: One of the most important parts about taking lessons is that it insures that you are not alone in your journey. We are right there along side you. When people ask about the difference between online lessons or video instruction and individual instruction, I love to share that video lessons or group online classes are focused on the instrument, while Individual lessons are focused on the Individual... in this case, You! When you have a private instructor finding your strengths, challenges, seeing your technique, routines, progress, stylistic choices, life experiences, insecurities and sharing your dreams and action steps to get there.. wow, now you have an advocate on your side to help you make true progress!  Nobody is an island, we all need one another to become all we can be.  Each one needs one to pick them up if they fall, show them the way when we feel lost and celebrate milestones on life's journey.  We are thankful we get to share this journey with you!