The Secret to Practice is Understanding Yourself: An Interview with Claire Allen

This week we’re talking to violinist, music educator, and writer Claire Allen. In this episode we’re discussing effective practice, tapping into what students want to improve in their playing, and how understanding ourselves is really the key to effective 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:

Highlights of this Conversation with Claire Allen Include:

On Starting at nine in her school program:

“So I like to really stress that I started at nine and fourth grade and my public school system. I have a photo of myself from then. And I use that when I’m convincing my students that like, no, really, if I can fix this kid, (because that was me) I can help you. I promise. So, I mean, I looked like someone that, you know, people would look at that posture and go, oh, I don’t want that remedial student. . .

Luckily I had a really, really great strings teacher – shout out to Mrs. Roth. Who’s still teaching and then who I’m still in touch with a little bit. And she found time to give me one-on-one and recommended that I take private lessons.”

Claire Allen around age 10, as referenced in the quote above

Claire Allen 20 years later – what a transformation!

On Teaching:

“And it really it’s really made me rethink my own practice. And it’s really made me rethink my own mentalities toward things. It’s very interesting to go from, you know, being that kind supportive teacher persona. Who’s a genuine part of me, but who, I really definitely try to cultivate when I’m working with my students.

It’s really hard to go between that and the kind of self-loathing that’s was going on in my own practice. It’s like, I would never talk to a child this way. Why am I talking to myself like this?

I think my students, especially by the time they’re in middle or high school, you know, they’re, they’re amazing at taking in information and saying it right back to you, you know, they’re really good at tests. They’re really good at that. I’m trying to make sure that I grow my language with them.”

On our professions changing approach to injuries and health:

“And I think there’s been a big shift in the last 10 years in the music world. When I was an undergraduate, I had a very severe performance injury that took me out for about a year, resulting in a lot of physical therapy. There’s reasons (that) I’m kind of obsessive about my student’s technique now. And at the time I was told, you know, don’t tell people that you’ve been injured. You know, when I was an undergraduate, that was the advice I was given. So the idea that I would come on, a podcast that anyone in the world could listen to and say, the I’m a professional violinist and I’ve been injured was like totally taboo. And now I think so many more people are comfortable talking about that. I think we’ve learned that it’s much more widespread for me as rarer to meet someone who says, yeah, I was really lucky and I had teachers and coaches and people who made sure that I paced myself and I developed my technique in this way.”

On Practice:

“The secret to effective practice is understanding yourself. And I think that’s a lifelong thing that we’re all still trying to do. But I think if you’re a parent practicing with a child, understanding how your child learns and what works for them, rather than trying to reach goalposts or external things is going to be more effective. And if you are someone like my past self was who just desperately wants to be good enough at the violin and is trying so hard and people keep telling you to loosen up and relax, first of all, ignore them because “just relax” has never helped anyone in the history of anything and ask yourself what you need to understand more about yourself. And that’s going to be the key to getting past whatever it is you’re going through.”