No practice?
There must be something in the air (besides pollen) because last week a disproportionately large number of my students sent some version of this message:
“I think I should skip my lesson this week because I haven’t practiced at all.”
I get it – I even remember uttering those same words myself. It’s easy to think that. After all, when you have had a “week from hell” (that seem to occur more and more frequently), you won’t have had time to practice.
But this is incredibly wrongheaded. Why you ask? Well….
It comes from thinking of your lesson as a mini performance. But if you think of your lesson that way, then you do need all the practice you can get to be ready to be on that stage with the critic sitting in immediate proximity!
But that’s not what a lesson is!
A lesson (especially if you’re an adult) is an opportunity to glean knowledge and information from someone who is guiding you to grow into the musician you profess to wanting to become. I sum it up this way,
“I’m telling you these things so you can avoid my mistakes and I expect you to go on and make your own, new, original mistakes!”
A lesson couldn’t be farther from a mini-performance for your worst critic (you) and your perceived harshest critic (your teacher). It is meant to be a learning opportunity. In fact, if you come into your lesson and play flawlessly, then what’s the point? It’s in the lesson you want to fail – spectacularly! That way you can receive additional instruction that moves you forward. You’re not a dog, you don’t need a pat and a biscuit – you need constructive feedback and tuition, so you can keep moving!
In addition – playing the harp isn’t just about flinging out the sounds of choice, is it? Of course not! There is so much more to being a musician and all those things can also be a part of your lesson when, due to other circumstances, you’re not prepared to play tunes in various states of dishabille. What, you might ask? Here’s a long but not exhaustive list of things you could work on:
- Reading and Notation
- Theory
- History
- Listening
- Composing and Improvisation
- Harmonizing
- Rhythm
- Effects
- Tuning
- Techniques
- New pop tunes*
So, the next time you’re not feeling prepared, or feel as if you’re going to be “wasting” your teacher’s time, or like you are setting yourself up for humiliation, remember that there are loads of things to be taught that might not get covered when you are more prepared to play a piece and the focus is on learning or perfecting. Also remember that your teacher has many things to teach to and share with you and this could introduce time to cover some of those (especially since there’s never enough time in lessons to cover everything).
Have you ever canceled a lesson because you felt like you were not prepared? Have you ever thought you should have, but then had a great lesson in spite of your misgivings? Do you remember a time when you were dreading going to your lesson but it ended up being a great time? I’d love to hear your take – leave a comment!
PS – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate!
* No really, your teacher is still a person and might actually have other interests…but you’ll never know if you only ever talk about harp!
I confess, I do have thoughts about cancelling a lesson. Lately, my harp practice, rather my lesson practice, is being done the day before or the morning of my lesson. My teacher is so very understanding, and counts “playing harp anytime” as practice. I still have some anxiety of how to fill the lesson minutes. Drills eat up only a small part, and I’m not working on any thing specific right now. We do have conversations about tunes, playing, etc. and that counts in my book.
At a recent lesson, I played for her a hymn (I am actually playing a tiny bit in church!) that was in my “playing harp anytime” repertoire. It was a song new to her and new to me earlier this winter. A simple song, my own simple arrangement. I felt very good about my playing and I think she did, too. It was actually a good lesson day.
I’m delighted that you are happy with your playing – and I bet your teacher feels the ame way. Most teachers want you to make the progress you desire. I also agree that playing any time definitely counts! And good on you for creating your own arrangements ND playing in church!
I did this just last week – postponed because I’d been sick and hadn’t spent as much time as I’d planned. I see your point, though, and as long as the teacher agrees with this approach, it’s a helpful change.
Posting for Sara who still can’t reply on the site:
Yes yes and YES!
So many times I haven’t practiced what I think is enough and felt like cancelling my lesson — and then went and had a great lesson, sometimes one of the best. The very fact that you feel like you want to cancel a lesson means that you’re thinking about your playing, about what troubles you’re having with it. Most importantly, it means that you care. A teacher can be of so much help in this very situation — when I’m discouraged, I think about the questions I want to ask my teacher — or show her what’s going wrong so I can be taught — or reminded of — what I can do to make things better and easier.
Of course, this can also depend on the teacher. I had a famous harpsichord teacher once who was completely intolerant of people who didn’t practice enough and came to lessons poorly prepared and playing badly. Students would be brought to tears in their lessons. In a word, he was an ogre (although in other contexts, could be wonderful). Fortunately, our Jen is not an ogre, nowhere close!
I see I need to up my ogre game! 🙂
Thanks for this Jen- you’re so right. I’m totally guilty of everything you pointed out about canceling a lesson when I’m not prepared. And I’ve also experienced each of the positives you mentioned when I managed to go to my lesson in spite of my doubts. When I was working before I was studying with you often the only practice I had was at my lesson. And even then I still managed to improve….slowly😉
It’s true that we might make faster progress. What’s less clear is if it’s better progress!
Yes. Yes!!! YES!!!
I’m sending this to my students today. They need to hear it from you.
Long ago I had a student who always came to lessons, but usually with a long list of questions and things to discuss. We might or might not play, but she learned a lot, and she enjoyed playing.
Sometimes those are the best lessons!
Guilty as charged. Your comments are right on. I need to get back on track.
Thanks!
Lita
Go get ’em tiger!