ADVICE FOR MUSIC STUDENTS

Beatriz Martin-Ruiz, Harpist

I- APPROACH TO PRACTICING IN GENERAL

• WARM-UPS

• PRACTICE REGULARLY

• PRACTICE 6 DAYS A WEEK

• TAKE ONE DAY OFF

• NEVER PRACTICE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR WITHOUT TAKING A BREAK

• MAKE YOUR PRACTICING INTERESTING EVERYDAY

• CHALLENGE YOURSELF

• KEEP FOLDERS OF PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE MUSIC

• KEEP A DIARY OR A PRACTICE LOG

II- UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR BODY WORKS

• HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF PHYSIOLOGY

• USE YOUR BODY EFFICIENTLY:

1. LEARN TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTRACTED AND

RELAXED MUSCLES

2. IDENTIFY AND USE ONLY THE MUSCLES THAT ARE NEEDED

3. CONSERVE ENERGY

• MIND YOUR POSTURE

• EAT WELL, EXERCISE WELL, SLEEP WELL

• STRETCH

• LISTEN TO YOUR BODY: AVOID PHYSICAL PAIN

III- KEEPING HEALTHY ATTITUDES (10 GOLDEN RULES)

1. BE EFFICIENT, WORK WITH A GOAL IN MIND

2. SET REALISTIC SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GOALS, AND EVALUATE THEM

REGULARLY

3. BE PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCEPT/FORGIVE YOUR MISTAKES

4. BE KIND TO YOURSELF

5. LISTEN TO YOURSELF

6. FEEL THE MUSIC FLOWING THROUGH YOU AND ALL AROUND YOU

7. BE TRUE TO THE MUSIC

8. ALL THINGS IN DUE TIME

9. BE AWARE OF HOW YOUR BODY REACTS TO STIMULI AND

INFORMATION, USE THAT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

10. GIVE IT YOUR BEST EVERYDAY