Clovis's Tutoring Blog

Being alone at the piano is a rewarding experience that brings together different facets of our being in enjoyable moments of self-realization. It may sound like a mouthful, but we've all had moments when everything just seemed to come together. Such moments are rare for most people because they happen, for the most part, by chance. Musical study helps us to create those moments. When immersed in sound, concentrating on a particular movement, we suddenly realize that everything exists right here, right now. It's a moment that is difficult to describe, but we've all had them. Time stands...

From the Latin educere, meaning "to draw out from within."

1. Musicians all know the first rule of success is to practice every day. The first days of school should be no exception. Don't think of it as another chore or homework assignment. If you see it as an opportunity to relax and be creative, it can provide a refreshing break from more syllogistic subjects. Musical expression gets its impetus from unique parts of the brain, not to mention certain muscles that may not be getting used much during the daily academic routine. Don't forget, daily practice has a cumulative effect. By the end of the week, you will have accomplished something you...

Your time spent memorizing can be made more productive through three simple activities.

First, take small bites. The human brain remembers about 11-12 words before it starts to let go of an idea. Musically speaking, that could be as much as a measure or as little as a single chord. In fact, it is conceivable that several minutes might be spent recalling repeatedly a single note. Look at the page. Then, without looking at the page, imagine yourself playing the selected notes. It may take several repetitions of looking and not looking before you get all the notes right. When you can imagine...