Wednesday, October 2, 2019 by Bonnie Synhorst | Uncategorized

As we approach our first performance opportunity of the season, I often get asked if students 'have to' do it.  So, although I want to put it out there that (in my studio) students NEVER have to, there are many great reasons that they should:

1. I believe that music is to be shared and it gives great joy to both be the one sharing the music as well as to the listeners who hear the results of the students' efforts.

2. In my studio, recitals are provided as a way to both learn and grow musically.  Nobody wants to judge anyone else, and I want to provide a comfortable environment for students to play the pieces they've been working so hard to learn in which they can not worry about making mistakes, but still get the opportunity to feel what it is like to be in front of an audience in a non-intimidating setting.  

3. Recitals are projects and life is full of projects.  This may be a student's first experience with a deadline and they will need to learn to plan and prioritize their practice in order to get their piece ready by the recital date.  

4. Learning to deal with stress and sometimes failure is a life lesson.  I don't want any student to go into a recital unprepared, but it happens and when it does, it is a great chance to help students learn how the choices they made impacted the end results and encourage them to do things differently the next time. It's a horrible feeling for a student to make mistakes in front of everybody, but recitals provide a 'safe' experience for them so that, if and when it happens, we can pick them up, dust them off and help them to know that it happens to us all and we want them to always do their best and not be afraid to try again.

Ultimately, it is YOUR and your student's decision to play or not, but I hope you chose to let them come and experience the fun and joy of sharing music with others publicly! ♬

Tuesday, July 30, 2019 by Bonnie Synhorst | Uncategorized

Argh!  Another message about practice. . .I get it---we all wish we could just skip to the part where we can play it perfectly.  Alas!  That will never happen without countless mindless repetitions of the same passage. . .over and over and over. . . .and . . .over. . .

But wait!  What if it didn't have to be played a million times?  I'll let you in on a secret:  IT DOESN'T!!!!  Not if you are super careful to always play it correctly when you do play it. Science is on our side and there are studies that state that it takes 7 repetitions to remember something.  Of course, that is true if you play it right OR if you play it wrong----and if you practice it wrong, you are bound to remember it wrong.  

I really wish I knew that long ago, but luckily I know it now and I'm sharing this super secret knowledge with you so you don't have to go through the torment that I went through.

Happy Practicing!!