Month: March 2021

In this article, I will show you one simple and very refreshing psycho-hygiene technique. It will bring you release and help you be aware of the difference between tension and release. Sometimes, over-using some body part and being in permanent tension causes our disability to even feel the relaxed state within that part, because tension became "normal" form this part, although it may cause many problems in particular instrumental technique, tiredness and discomfort. This tension may not come just from overplaying, much physical work or one-sided motions that come with particular technique practice, but also from stress and anxiety. We sometimes compensate our stress reactions by bodily tension in some parts of the body. One simple example, imagine some person you are afraid of or a place bound with stress…

To be effective, you should be aware first, how does the learning process in your brain look like. Let’s take it absolutely simple! Your brain is making notes of what you are doing. Take a paper and narrow pencil and try to draw a circle. Then try to tighten it couple of times. How many times do you practice the same spot? Take as many circles! Try another circle, in different tempo, of different size and do the same. Then look at the circles. How precise is your circle? How much were you able to keep the exact trajectory? How much did you concentrate?  Similar way, your brain records your learning process within some spot. It joins particular cells, which involve in action within the spot, and make a “neuronal circuit”…

In the last article about breathing, you got couple of suggestions how to train your breathing. How to use breath for release and within instrumental playing? First, try following exercise for release. It is not difficult, but it depends very much on your focus. Release of your back. Lie down on your belly comfortable way, put your head on one of your ears, if you feel to, bend your knee or even your hand, just get to the most comfortable and relaxed state.  Close your eyes and start breathing.  Then start breathing to particular parts around your spine. Start at the coccyx part and continue upright. Concentrate on the part around coccyx and start sending your breath to this area. If you manage, you will feel how the part is…

Breath is a basis of our lives. No breath - no life. If we don't breathe well, our brains and tissues don't get enough energy to function properly. Breath brings space and release to our bodies, new energy and awakes our mental awareness. Additionally, due to breathing muscle diaphragm, breathing supports function of the core - a center of our body which enables us to keep our posture vertical and flexible. Breath is happening automatically in our bodies, still it is life process reacting on everything that happen inside and around you. Breath mirrors our emotions, stress and fear as well as relaxed state and satisfaction.If we don't feel well, our way of breathing will reveal it. Contrary, we can influence our feelings by breathing coordination. We can influence our…

You have already started creating weekly and daily plans. How to work with single compositions to make your work effective? Couple of suggestions for you! As you divided your whole practice material into parts, divide also a composition to be played. Within small forms, this is not necessary, but within larger pieces such as a movement from a concerto, this section making will her you much. Most of the time we praktice linear way - from the top to the end. Then, many compositions are out of balance. We "rule" the beginnings, manage the middle and hardly play the end... We spend most of our energy for beginnings and much less remains for other parts. So, divide your composition into couple of parts - for example: a, b, c -…

Considering psycho-hygiene means to redistribute your energy wisely and keep balance between body and mind issues, between work and compensation in your everyday life. Psycho-hygiene helps you clean yourself from mess, which causes stress and long-term discomfort in your body and mind. Although we have a plenty of "psycho-hygiene techniques", psycho-hygiene is basically entire attitude to your life and time structure of your everyday well being. The main goal is basically reaching balance between aspects of our lives and daily activities. The aim of our articles is not giving you exhausting information, but to provide insight to get familiar with the topic and get inspiration how to integrate it in your praxis. What can be included in the psychohygiene approach? considering balance between work, compensation and relaxationbalance between rationality and…

Couple of basic tips for practice. How to reach effectiveness of learning process? In the next article you will be given a couple of basic tips, how to think about your practice process to keep concentration, energy and motivation.  Do not praktice every day the same way! Change an order of your practice duties after couple of days. If you practise every day in the same order, begin with scales, continue with etudes and finish with compositions, your earning process may not be that effective. Additionaly, you raise doubts about your ability to play well for every casein which you cannot follow this habit and you must play a composition straight…this can be an extra reason for your uncertainty before lessons, exams and concerts. Divide your practice material into couple…

Practice and planning. If you have no goal and plan to reach the goal, you basically do not know, what you are doing. It is like to set off a journey to nowhere… Without clear considering of your goals and plans you have no chance apply effective strategy to become more productive. Although compositions and practice material brings the needs of what to fix and work on itself, such a way of work is less effective, sometimes chaotic and stressful more on a long term basis. Therefore, it is good to make plans! Even “having no plan” for some day is a plan, if you KNOW and decide it consciously and with clear reasons. So making plans is even more about awareness of where you are, where you want to…

This is the question all the students ask often in every school, every country and age the most. We all know that just practice is not enough. What counts more is HOW we practice.  In the next articles I will provide you tips about time planning, practice structure and also practice strategies to make your work efficient. Now, some points generally… Time structure.  This is where our day and our effectiveness begins. Certain amount of structure provides us safe space and framework, in which our minds can work, concentrate better ad create. Being without structure does not mean to be free, but the more - chaotic. Sometimes, a day without structure makes us perfect feeling of independence and creativity, especially after many of structured days and much hard working… If we…

This period of time is not very promising for studies... It is very difficult to keep focus on instrument, motivation to work, discipline and effectiveness. How to keep our minds working despite times of Corona and improve?  This will be the issue of following Blog! In the next days and weeks, I will share couple of techniques and tips with you, how to make your self-study more efficient, your mind more concentrated, your body more relaxed and how to prevent stress and anxiety.  Do not take this time as something that ruins your progress! Take it opposite way and think: What can I learn from this situation for my further studies? How can I profit from it? You have a choice between letting yourself be weakened or strengthened by this…