This week on the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with Raúl Gómez-Rojas, musical director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), about the transformative power of music education in the lives of young people. 

This is a special episode highlighting a non-profit organization making a difference in its local community, and this conversation has something for everyone as we talk about many benefits of music in the lives of the next generation.

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Empowering the Next Generation Through Music with Raúl Gómez-Rojas of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony – Time To Practice

Highlights of our conversation with Raúl Gómez-Rojas include:

In episode 76 of the Time to Practice podcast, Barbie Wong joins Christine to answer this frequently asked question that we have both heard often when working with families of music students. “How do I get my child to WANT to practice without being reminded?”

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below:

How do I get my child to WANT to practice without being reminded? with Barbie Wong – Time To Practice

On this week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with Dr. Cora Cooper about her wonderful anthology Violin Music by Women Composers, as well as works by many other composers that are not easily available anywhere else. Dr. Cooper shares her journey as a publisher as well as her practice flow chart, which is a fantastic resource for helping with music practice.

To Listen to the full episode with Dr. Cora cooper you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Women Composers in Student Literature and Beyond with Dr. Cora Cooper – Time To Practice

Highlights of our conversation with Dr. Cora Cooper include:

This article about holding parent teacher conferences was originally published as an episode of the Time to Practice podcast. It has been edited a bit for ease of reading. You can listen to this episode through the link below.

To listen to the full episode, you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Parent-Teacher Conferences in the Private Studio – Time To Practice

My goal is to share with you a little bit about why I hold parent-teacher conferences, how I go about them, and also a few things that I’ve learned that help make the most of our time meeting with the families in our program in this format, so that you can get the most out of your time when you hold parent-teacher conferences.
 

Why hold parent-teacher conferences?

Before I ever held these conferences in my own studio I heard about them for a long time and thought I would add them into my program at some point in the future. I think I was a little bit nervous about holding them as a teacher if I’m honest.

This week we are talking about music practice with violinist, parent, music educator, and the co-director of the Southside Suzuki Cooperative in Chicago, Andrew Miller. Andrew shares his musical journey, from starting violin at age 14 to becoming a violin teacher, parent of young musicians, and his current role at Southside Suzuki Cooperative. He discusses the importance of group music-making for motivation, as well as the unique challenges and rewards of practicing with his own children on violin and cello. Andrew shares practical advice for parents on managing practice time and creating a positive practice environment – I can’t wait for you to listen!

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Music Practice from a Parent & Teacher Perspective: A Conversation with Violinist Andrew Miller – Time To Practice

Highlights of this conversation with Andrew Miller include:

This week we’re excited to have our monthly guest, Barbie Wong, who has done extensive research on the lives of professional musicians and especially their musical environments growing up. She is back on the podcast to talk about ways that you (or the families that you work with) can help create a musical environment for your children as they work on developing their musical skills. 

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Creating an Environment for Your Musician to Thrive with Barbie Wong – Time To Practice

Highlights from this episode on creating a musical environment at home include:

On this week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with professional violinist, music educator including orchestra director in the Seattle Public schools for 10+ years, conductor with the Bellvue Youth Symphony Orchestra, and private teaching experience about collaboration between private teachers and orchestra or ensemble teachers.

I invited Stephanie to come and speak to me after getting a question about how private teachers and orchestra teachers can collaborate. You can see the post that started it all below. I think this topic can be discussed from many angles, so this is the first of many discussions on it, I hope! 

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Collaboration between Studio Teachers & Orchestra Directors with Stephanie Hellekson – Time To Practice

This week on the Time to Practice podcast, I shared two questions about music practice that have been coming up over and over in the talks I've been giving, and the questions I'm being asked. You can listen to this episode through the audio link below, or anywhere you stream podcasts, or you can read the transcript below. Wishing you moments of peace and calm this week, and of course some great music practice. Happy Listening! To Listen to the…

On this week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we’re speaking with cellist, composer, and music educator Bianca d’Avila do Prado about her journey to the cello and later composing music. We talk about music practice, the importance of seeing people we connect to and identify with doing inspiring things in the world of music, and using our music practice as self-care. Enjoy!

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Music Practice as Self-Care: A conversation with Cellist and Composer Bianca d'Avila Do Prado – Time To Practice

Highlights of our conversation with Bianca d’Avila do Prado include:

On this week’s episode of the Time to Practice podcast, regular guest Barbie Wong is back to have a great conversation about practice challenges. Whether you’re a parent or caregiver supporting a young musician or a music educator, a practice challenge can help give a real boost of motivation and energy around getting in our daily practice (or listening for that matter!)

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

Why & How to Create a Practice Challenge: A Conversation with Barbie Wong – Time To Practice

Highlights of my conversation with Barbie Wong all about Practice Challenges include: 

* Decide what is going to count when it comes to tracking your practice. Barbie Wong suggests taking stock of where you currently are. If regular practice is already happening, then getting to a certain time goal, or number of tasks accomplished, or kinds of tasks accomplished may be appropriate.