What Was I Thinking???

So there you are…you’ve got your clarinet in your hands and you knew you were about to practice, and oops, gone again. Your mind just wandered off as if it had legs of its own. Sounds funny (yes?) but how many times have you experienced this?

How do you stay present and make the most out of your practice sessions? There really is only one answer and that is to decide that you really want to be there and work on this piece, lick, or passage. Because if you don’t want to be in that room with your horn, how will you stay present?

So here are some tips on how you can stay present as you  practice.

1. Listen…to every note, to every dynamic, to every phrase and make it sound as beautiful as possible.

2. Let the judge in you take a vacation. No judging yourself at all, ever.  This is key!!

3. Decide that everything you play will be the best you know how to do for that day.

4. When your practice time is up, know you did your best for that day.

5. If you find your mind wandering, take a mini-break and return with new energy.

Have the best time!