Thoughts from a recovering perfectionist: don’t forget the good when you critique yourself

Thoughts from a recovering perfectionist: don’t forget the good when you critique yourself

When someone asks you to reflect on a performance or playing in a lesson or practice or rehearsal - you go straight to what can be improved, right? It feels so weird, maybe a little boastful to mention anything you liked about whatever the situation was, right? Try acknowledging what went well, because we don’t level up unless something goes well.

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Three practice tips for musicians that will break your brain
music tips, music practice, practice tips Shannon Lewis music tips, music practice, practice tips Shannon Lewis

Three practice tips for musicians that will break your brain

Do you ever practice something over and over and everything is going well, but then you hit a wall in your practice? Or something throws you off when you’re out of the practice room? Or just bored of the same practice strategies?

I have a few practice strategies for musicians that are definitely character building. In other words, they feel like they’re breaking your brain. What’s actually happening is strengthening the fortress around your skill by building the skill from different approaches and angles than what we’re used to as musically inclined practice room dwellers.

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Thoughts from a recovering perfectionist: self-recording
perfectionism, practice, music, recording Shannon Lewis perfectionism, practice, music, recording Shannon Lewis

Thoughts from a recovering perfectionist: self-recording

Recording my own playing…just the thought gave me the heebie jeebies for a long time. Everyone says we should do it for a whole host of reasons, but sometimes the thought of it gives the eugh.

Well…I hate to say it, but they’re right.

“But I don’t like the way I sound on a recording, the minute I hit record all my skill goes out the window, it makes me nervous, what if someone else hears it, what if someone else hears it and gives unsolicited advice, but I know it’s for practice and improving but I just can’t stop doing takes until it’s perfect.”

Does that sound familiar? I see you (unless you don’t wish to be perceived, I totally get it.)

I too was once very put off by recording my own playing and listening back. Sometimes I still am…but I feel the eugh an do it anyway.

Here’s why…

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Three things I never skip in my flute warm up
flute, tone, warm up Shannon Lewis flute, tone, warm up Shannon Lewis

Three things I never skip in my flute warm up

Three things I don’t skip in my warm ups. I consider these extremely useful tone exercises for resonance, tone colour, depth of tone, dynamics, flexibility, and more. When I started using these in my own practice, I noticed a difference rather quickly, but that of course came with consistency with using them along with my other warm up activities.

Just as the saying goes, “don’t skip leg day” - I don’t skip these. So let’s get going with a few of my favourite things.

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My journey finding improvisation (+ a free resource!)
Shannon Lewis Shannon Lewis

My journey finding improvisation (+ a free resource!)

Improvisation used to be scary for me.

Well first it wasn’t, then it was, and now it’s definitely not.

When you’re told to just make up anything, that can instil some major indecisiveness. Such indecisiveness can make you freeze up. This is my journey with/to/finding improvisation, and a free resource with my favourite starter improvisation prompts.

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Memorization tips for musicians
Shannon Lewis Shannon Lewis

Memorization tips for musicians

My memorization tricks!

These are three tools for memorization that I use that can help with reinforcing memory-work in music, and starting the challenge of memorizing music.

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Practice journal reflections (after a break)
Shannon Lewis Shannon Lewis

Practice journal reflections (after a break)

Practice reflections to consider when coming back after a super solid break (or any time really)

As I always believed, when coming back from an extended break, take time to be kind and rewind (a la Blockbuster Video)

So here are a few to think about to help get the most out of coming back home to your practice.

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Practice journal reflection ideas for musicians - part 2
Shannon Lewis Shannon Lewis

Practice journal reflection ideas for musicians - part 2

More practice reflection prompts to consider before or during your practice to remind you of your motivation, your presence, notice any stress or tension, and bringing joy or at least neutrality and calmness into your practice session with your instrument.

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