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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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.

This week, on the Time to Practice Podcast, we’re speaking with Dr. Elizabeth Guerriero about motivation and maximum Efficiency in Music Practice. Elizabeth is a violinist, music educator, and founder of Beth G Consulting. She had a lot of wisdom to share about learning, achievement, and music practice. We talk about a hilarious story about her own practicing growing up, motivation and practice for musicians of all ages, the idea of maximum efficiency in practice and Elizabeth leaves us with great practice tips both from her and –  as a bonus – from one of her students.

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: 

Highlights of our conversation with Elizabeth Guerriero include:

This episode about how to support young musicians in music practice during the holidays when things are busy and we’re out of our routines, was originally published in audio format on the Time to Practice Podcast. It has been edited and formatted for ease of reading. You can read it below or listen to the audio anywhere you listen to podcasts.

It’s the last week of school before winter break here in the US, and I know it’s such a busy time right now for teachers and families, so I want to share a few thoughts about music practice during the busy holiday season. Really this advice could apply to any busy season in life.

For many professional musicians, teachers, and more advanced students who perform in ensembles, the holiday season and the end of the year can be a very busy time with lots to practice for. Practice, for those with many performances this time of year, in a way, is a “must-do” item and there may be no question about practice happening or not happening. If this is you, you likely will have practice and rehearsals and then enjoy some much-needed rest when you get the chance.

This music practice for holidays that I want to share is really for the families of students who do not have this built-in practice motivation right now. For those of you who want to get practice done but may find this time of year difficult or even overwhelming because it’s such a busy season.

If you’re anything like me. or the families I work with, just getting to all of the extra activities right now and getting the extra errands done and things like this can feel like a lot to accomplish. And then, on top of that, we are guiding our young musicians through practice when everyone may be short on focus, patience, and time, and it can feel like a challenge on many fronts. 

Here are Four ideas to help with Music practice during the holidays:

Tip #1: My best advice is to focus on just doing SOMETHING and touching the instrument every day that you can.

That could look like a full, structured practice, “play your favorite three songs today,” or even an informal concert with stuffed animals or visiting family members.

Aim to keep music going. That alone can be a great goal this time of year. Some days with young students, simply getting some practice or music-making to happen is a win. My advice is to please focus on trying to do what you can.

 

Tip #2: listen to music as much as you can!