Resources

This week we’re speaking with violinist & violist Raymond Mallari. We talk about motivation, how he used to think he didn’t like to practice when he was younger but has changed his mind, and the importance of incorporating the human side of ourselves as musicians into our music. I hope you find this episode as fun & inspirational as I did.

Raymond Mallari acquired his advancing musical powers from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Much to his crazy ambition, he completed his degrees in both violin & viola! A great example of his craziness was when he participated in the MTNA Music Competition not once, but 4 times. No – he didn’t win 1st place, but the judges did like his playing as he was awarded “2nd” & “Honorable Mention” in some categories. His orchestral experience includes many groups, but these days he just plays with Kennett Symphony & Berks Sinfonietta as a section violist. One orchestra even hired him to tour China back in the day! Another time he left the country was when he earned a diploma of chamber music in Madrid, Spain.

“Mr. Ray,” has over 15 years experience teaching at many institutes. He is currently a faculty member at Immaculata University Malvern & West Chester Music Academy. He is also wildly active with the Greater Philadelphia Suzuki Association — having the honor of being a Board Member. Most recently, he joined another team of excellent Board Members with the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County. He is passionate about the Suzuki method & heavily incorporates it into his lessons & lectures. Outside of music, he is currently attempting yoga, attempting a 5K, & attempting to navigate the huge grocery store Wegmans. 

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

This week we are talking to violinist, music teacher, and parent Kristina Turner. From her website: Kristina Turner grew up in Bellingham, Washington. She attended Eastern Washington University and studied Violin with Kelly Farris while performing in the EWU Symphony Orchestra and Gonzaga University Symphony. Kristina transferred back home to finish her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Western Washington University, studying Violin with Walter Schwede and continuing to perform in Symphony, Chamber, and New Music Ensembles. Kristina was a member of the Whatcom (now Bellingham) Symphony Orchestra from 2007 until 2019.

Kristina Turner taught in Bellingham from 2003 until 2019 when she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a registered and active teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

In this episode of the Time to Practice podcast, we talk about what drew Kristina to teaching, what she learned about practicing the hard way, and the lessons she’s learned from practicing music with her son.

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

In this week’s episode, we’re speaking with Lisa Dyvig. Lisa is a professional violist living in Olympia Washington. She is also a music teacher & parent of two young musicians.

Lisa is the owner and creator of Alto Clef gifts – which features fun gifts, mugs, t-shirts and more that she was inspired to create after realizing how many cool music items are out there for other instruments and wanting violists to be included too. 

We talk about efficient practice, what can make practice challenging, and how Lisa has found ways to mentor teens learning to teach in her community. 

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

This week’s podcast episode is the second in a two-part series recapping the practice tips from all of our amazing Time to Practice guests shared at the end of their episodes this year. You can find part one of the series HERE.

This series a great way to remember all the great practice ideas shared on the podcast in 2021 and if you missed any of these interviews, it may spark your interest in catching up with some past episodes. If you found this episode helpful or inspiring please share it with your music program, teacher, colleagues, or friend. Thanks for spreading the word about the podcast!

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

This week’s podcast episode starts a two-part series (to be continued next week) recapping the practice tips from all of our amazing Time to Practice guests shared at the end of their episodes this year. 

It’s a great way to remember all the great practice ideas shared on the podcast in 2021 and if you missed any of these interviews, it may spark your interest in catching up with some past episodes. If you found this episode helpful or inspiring please share it with your music program, teacher, colleagues, or friend. Thanks for spreading the word about the podcast!

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

In this episode, we’re speaking with music educator Jessica Peresta. Jessica is a music teacher who spent time in the classroom and now works to support teachers through mentorship, curriculum development, and her resources at her website The Domestic Musician, and through The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast.

We talk about her memories of learning music as a child, a great practice tip, and have some real talk about how to think about making goals and preparing for a new year as teachers and parents who may feel burnout or exhausted. This conversation was really helpful for me personally and I hope it will be for you too!

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

Today Christine is sharing a few ideas about measuring our progress at the end of the year. Especially when it comes to progress on an instrument with young musicians, here are three ways we can think about looking back and seeing how far we’ve come this year. 

You can read this article below, or listen to it on audio through the link below.

To Listen to the full episode you can find the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

You can also listen directly from the link below:

This week we’re talking to Executive Function Skills coach Emily Hawe all about the skills we use in practice and how we (as teachers and practice partners) can help our children and students develop them.

Emily Hawe is a certified teacher and staff developer for multiple NYC metropolitan area school districts and the parent of a new piano student. Emily’s website is called Mindlaunchers and is a great resource on this topic. We talk about the importance of executive function skills in the practice room, specific ways we can support our children and students to develop them, and I hope you come away with new ideas and insights into practice with young musicians.

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

Listen to the audio version of this article On Gratitude & Being Human on the Time to Practice Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. You can also listen directly from the link below: 

I’ve been trying to decide if I should make a podcast episode about gratitude this November. I am a firm believer in gratitude, for sure. And even have a daily practice of gratitude. I use a journal most mornings called the Five-minute Journal, and I answer a prompt about three things I’m grateful for along with three things that would make a great day and there’s space to write affirmations. And it’s a great way to start my day. Sometimes I write big profound things. Sometimes I can just think of being grateful for the coffee I happen to be drinking or the purring cat sitting in my lap.

And I’ve done this practice for years. I have to admit over the last couple of years, with all that we’ve been going through, I have some mixed feelings and some ups and downs and myself with gratitude.

This week we’re speaking with Violinist & Violist, Suzuki Teacher, conductor, and music education advocate Tamara Gonzalez. We discuss the importance of school music programs, how vital an orchestra experience is if you have one in your community, and many helpful ideas about practice. 

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