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What Did You Learn Today?
When our children were in elementary school, we always had the “What did you learn in school today?” conversation around the dinner table. They would try to say, “Nothing,” but that just wasn’t an acceptable answer. After they got the idea that "Nothing" for a response wasn't going to fly in our house, my son and daughter knew they’d better be prepared with an answer, any answer, just so they could get on with their meal every single night.
Eventually our children grew up and flew the nest, but…
Hard Work Beats Talent
Have you ever thought that the one thing holding you back in learning to play the dulcimer is that you just aren’t talented enough. I have some GOOD news for you. Talent doesn’t matter nearly as much as you probably think. Through the years, I have learned that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
I’m 79 now and I’ve talked to … taught … mentored … and played along with many talented musicians. I can personally guarantee you – even the most talented and famous musicians have st…
Lighten Your Load
I want you to think for a minute about the Pony Express. From 1860-1862, mail was delivered in the United States by the Pony Express. This company was quite concerned about weight for the sake of speed. Riders had to weigh less than 125 pounds. While a mail bag as heavy as twenty pounds might be carried, the average weight did not exceed fifteen pounds. The horse as well as rider traveled very light. The combined weight of the saddle, bridle and saddle bags was not to exceed thirteen pounds. T…
Why Don’t I Practice More?
I’m a music teacher!!!! I know the importance of practicing regularly. I preach (teach) about the importance of practicing regularly. In spite of that, I find that “regular” practice usually only kicks in when I have a looming deadline.
Why is that? Is it because I’m too busy? Well, sure, I do have a lot going on. Is it because I’m too tired? True, at the end of the day I’m worn out. Is it that I’m not motivated to practice? Actually, my personal motivation appears to be linked to having a “p…
How Long Should I Practice
I have a close friend in South Africa. We email or “WhatsApp” nearly every day even though our time zones are 7 hours apart. Let’s just say, we have some midnight conversations, her time, from time to time.
She started taking piano lessons recently, and her first text about it was to tell me she had practiced 2 hours the day before, and when she came back to the piano the next day – she was back to ground zero. Aaaarrrrgh! Nothing she had practiced the day before stuck. She recorded herself t…
Never Stop Learning
You probably think that people like Steve Eulberg or Stephen Seifert have learned everything they can about playing the dulcimer, and just need to brush up on their skills now and then. You may even believe that someone like Erin Mae Lewis simply operates on a higher level and never has any problems with her playing. Well, it ain’t true.
Music, like any art form, is an evolving journey, and even the most accomplished musicians continue to grow, refine their skills, and explore new ideas. There…
You Want Me to WHAT???
Why is it, when someone asks us to perform our dulcimer for an audience that our mind goes into self-protection mode? We begin to conjure up excuses … “I’ll be out of town that week”, “I’m not good enough”, “I feel a cold coming on”, “I’m sorry but I already have other plans that day”, or “Oh no, I could never do that.”
Now let’s compare the reaction of a young child, let’s say between 6 and 9 years old, who is asked to play a tune for you. They’re excited. They can’t wait to take center st…
The 4 T’s of Learning to Play the Dulcimer
I read an article recently about the 3 P’s of music mastery. The three 3’s were Practice, Perseverance, and Patience. I found the article motivating, so I wondered if I could follow the same pattern for your newsletter – but by using a different letter. This is my first attempt. I was looking for the 3 T’s of learning to play the dulcimer but, instead of 3, I came up with 4.
- Time: Consistent practice over time is essential to master the dulcimer. After all, practice makes perfect, as th…
If You Don’t Schedule It …
There is a saying that goes, “If you don’t schedule it, you won’t do it.” And I agree. Scheduling is often (always?) the key to actually getting things done. Without a set time to focus on a task or activity, it’s easy for it to get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Life tends to fill up with distractions, responsibilities, and spontaneous demands, and without a plan, even the most important or enjoyable things can fall through the cracks. Scheduling helps ensure that you not only make time f…
Repetition: The Key to Learning
Many years ago when I was still teaching piano, there was a student who arrived on time but immediately confessed that she had not practiced at all that week. Aaaaarrrrgh! The first thought that went through my mind was that she was not only wasting her parents’ money, she was also wasting my time.
But then I decided there was actually a valuable way to use our time together. I told her that was fine, and let’s just use the lesson time as practice time. I told her I would be at my desk doing so…
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