I have a confession to make. I actually love playing scales. I know, I know, what sort of a loser enjoys scales?! But I wasn’t always this way, in fact all the way through school, university and beyond I loathed and dreaded playing scales, putting it off and feeling guilt and anxiety for how often… Continue reading How I learned to love scales (really!)
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Code-Switching
When I first read Isbell and Stanley’s article on code switching in music, I had a real ‘lightbulb’ moment. For years I had had played classical music dutifully; learning what my teachers suggested, working mechanically through exercises and studies and devoting my performances to canonical works. But my listening was another matter; classic rock, synthsy… Continue reading Code-Switching
How to Deal with Performance Nerves
I have been incredibly blessed in the past few years with performance opportunities; I’ve played in orchestras, folk groups and funk bands; in cathedrals, music shops and festivals. I don’t tend to get too nervous when performing but I had some really high-stake gigs in the last couple of months and as they got closer… Continue reading How to Deal with Performance Nerves
4 Tips for Getting Shit Done
I am a motivational mess and an organisational nightmare. I am not a natural student, or a natural practicer, if something’s tough the first time I do it, then my usual reaction is to lie on the sofa and eat a multi-person bag of Doritos and never do it again. But I’m also a perfectionist… Continue reading 4 Tips for Getting Shit Done
The Surprise…
I few years ago I started teaching at a school and I was told that I was being given the naughty class, and not to expect too much from them. But actually when I got there they weren't what I was expecting at all. Yeah, they were a bit tired and grumpy but it was… Continue reading The Surprise…
The First Performance Back
A while back I performed at my first classical concert for a long time. In my early 20's, while at university, concerts meant STRESS! They meant months of practice worrying about the tone of each note, they meant critics watching from on high dissecting every misplaced breath; they meant competition. And it got to the… Continue reading The First Performance Back
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