Category Archives: Music Practice Tips

Help Your Memory – Write It Down

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:An Easy Memory Aid Successful Musicians Write Notes to Themselves Some musicians treat their sheet music like an ancient manuscript to be displayed in a museum. They keep it in perfect, pristine condition. Sheet … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving Goals, Memorization, Music, Music Practice Tips | 2 Comments

The Secret to Sightreading

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:The Secret to Sightreading Many musicians are worried that their sightreading skills are not strong enough. Yet, sightreading is seldom made a regular part of practicing. The Real Goal of Sightreading It’s important to … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Music Lessons, Music Practice Tips, Sightreading | 6 Comments

Practice First

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:Making Time for Music Too Busy to Practice? If your life is busy, you may find it challenging to “fit in” your practice sessions. Day after day, practicing can take a back seat to … Continue reading

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Avoid the SAD Syndrome

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:Avoid the SAD Syndrome Many musicians have a habit of practicing in a way that will never lead to success in a performance. Their practicing is full of uncontrolled stops and starts. Their playing … Continue reading

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Prepare for Any Performance

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:6 Steps to Prepare for Any Performance From Learning to Mastery Once you can control all the notes for an upcoming concert, audition, gig, or other important situation, the practice room needs to become … Continue reading

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Recognize What You Do Well

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:Recognize What You Do Well Accomplishments vs. Problems Do you recognize your accomplishments and feel good about them? Many musicians are guilty of focusing only on the problems in their playing. It’s important to … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving Goals, Motivation, Music, Music Practice Tips, Performance Preparation | 3 Comments

Stage Clothes

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:The Performance Preparation that Nobody Does Whether your performance garb is white-tie and tails or a vinyl mini-skirt, you need to be sure you can play well in your stage clothes. Hardly anyone double … Continue reading

Posted in Motivation, Music Practice Tips, Music Rehearsal Tips, Performance Preparation | 4 Comments

Do SOMETHING Every Day

David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:Do Something Every Day It’s important to make practicing a regular part of your life. Even on the days when you don’t want to do anything musically, it’s important to get started. And you … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving Goals, Motivation, Music, Music Practice Tips, Positive Thinking | 1 Comment

Redefining Success

One of the things that plagues musicians when they practice is stopping playing, making a quick correction, and restarting. I call this the SAD Syndrome (SAD stands for Stop And Do-it-again), and I’ve seen it happen in my own practicing … Continue reading

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End of 2017 Goals

Time to Set Your 3-Month Goals for the End of 2017! Happy October! Time to set your 3-month goals for the end of 2017. Then work backwards: monthly goals this week’s goal today’s goal – which is what you practice … Continue reading

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