TIPS FOR STAYING MOTIVATED ABOUT PRACTICING

1. Use the 15-minute rule.

When you don't feel like practicing, tell yourself that you will practice for only 15 minutes and stop if you still don't feel like your making progress. Since getting started can be the hardest part of practicing, most people will keep going once they get into it. Some of my most productive practicing has come from sessions where I honestly felt I would never get anything done.

2. Focus on the fact that you will have a terrific feeling of accomplishment when you are done.

Practicing, with all the breathing and physical conditioning, will help you feel better physically as well as emotionally. Many professional musicians attribute additional health benefits with practicing. They site more stable emotions, a lack of stress, weight loss and muscle toning of the face, arms, legs and abs. The breathing exercises in long tone development are also used in ballet, and various forms of athletic training.

3. Promise yourself a little reward when you finish.

Looking forward to a reward can be a terrific incentive for getting started. Try a nice cup of tea, coffee or water. Get your practicing in before lunch and then relax and enjoy the rest of your day. Give yourself a half-hour to sit and talk to your friends after your practice session. Are you still felling stress? Take a walk around campus and plan your strategy for overcoming it. Try to worry less and take more action. You are in control of your stress-realize this and use it for your benefit.

4. Practice in different environments.

This is a good idea for a variety of reasons. Besides being a refreshing change of view, this idea helps you stay away from "practice room tone." The music department has many nice rehearsal rooms, sign them out properly and enjoy practicing in a nice acoustic environment from time to time.

5. Get yourself set-up properly.

Make sure you have all the equipment you need to be a fine musician. Besides your instrument and music, make sure you have all the extras. A good musician always has a pencil, metronome, extra reeds, sandpaper, glass, reed knife, tuner, etc. Find a way to carry it easily and be organized. Order your music early, and always order reeds and other materials well ahead of your need. Don't get caught without a reed!

6. Practice with a friend.

Let's face it. Practicing can be a lonely, boring business if you allow yourself to think of it this way. Find a friend and practice your long tones and scales together. By alternating your routine between yourselves, you will have the opportunity to rest and listen to another person. Remember we are all here to learn together, competition between friends and colleagues in unhealthy and can actually retard progress. Work together, learn together, pull together. The friends you make in college can last a lifetime.

7. Find your natural rhythm.

Some people like mornings, others are evening people. Try different routines until you find one that works for you. Personally I like to do all my practicing as early as possible. I enjoy a cup of coffee with my long tones and after I get my body and mind warmed up I do my scales, and prepared material. It's a great feeling to have my routine finished before work so that the rest of the day is mine. If I start my day with a positive action, like my routine, the rest of the day is also smooth, stress free and I have a positive outlook.

8. This is your time-Make the most of it!

Your college years are the last opportunity for growth and self-development. The years will go by quickly and the rest of your life will be devoted to other people, family and career. If you use this time wisely, and to the best of your ability, you will be able to look back over your college years, and say with pride to yourself, that you made the most of them.

Surround yourself with positive people. Nay-sayers, who are always complaining about the school, the teachers, other students or the profession, are trying to derail your efforts to succeed. If you listen to them, and allow them to take away your positive energy, you have fallen into their trap and it's your fault. You are the "young lions" of the future. This is YOUR time. Don't let anyone talk you into wasting your time.

CONSTANTLY ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

At the end of your degree you will need to be competitive in order to get a job or go on to graduate school. This means you will be in competition with other clarinetists from other schools in Ohio like: CCM, Bowling Green, Miami University, and others. You may also be in competition with musicians from schools outside Ohio like: Indiana, New York, and Michigan.

The question is this: Is your daily work ethic, behavior, attitude, and determination on equal standing with students from these other places? Would the teachers at the other schools be pleased with your accomplishments? When you come into your lessons and classes, is your level of preparation and professionalism on par with students from these other schools?