Tips for Summer Practice and Motivation

I try to take advantage of the time off to explore other types of music... It keeps you engaged with music and reminds you why you really enjoy it. Ryan Davis, violist and Artist Diploma candidate

Mentally, when you are trying to make improvement, be sure to take breaks, stay well-hydrated, and well-rested, so you can put your whole mind into your practice. Lauren Yoon, pianist and Music Academy alumna

Really know what interests you and just run with it... For me, I love folk music, and I have plenty of time to do that during the summer. Nick Arredondo, bassist and Bachelor of Music candidate

Summer can be a tricky time for music students. While peers majoring in academic subjects can put their books away, musicians still need to dedicate hours each day to maintaining and building their skills. Getting motivated and practicing thoughtfully can be a challenge when faced with hours of unstructured free time or long periods without lessons and performances.

We asked three students from the Colburn Conservatory of Music and Music Academy how they stay productive in their practice over the summer so they can return to campus refreshed and prepared in the fall. Read on for their tips, tricks, and wisdom.

Plan and structure your time during the day, whether with practicing or other passions.

“I schedule every hour of the day and when I will be practicing. I’m using a practice log right now, so when I sit down at the piano I know how much time I’ll be spending on each piece or movement. Time management is important for the summer.” –Lauren Yoon, pianist and 2017 Music Academy alumna

“I’ve been planning out my days and being really disciplined with every hour, trying to read a lot too. I can’t really do more than 4 or 5 hours of practicing, so besides that I do a lot of reading. I’m also trying to learn another language.” –Nick Arredondo, bassist and Bachelor of Music candidate

“I’m a huge morning person. It’s the time of the day when I find my energy levels are the highest and my focus is the best, so I have to really take advantage of the morning and start planning my day the night before.” –Ryan Davis, violist and Artist Diploma candidate

Stay focused on areas for growth and set specific goals.

“I like to make lists of what is especially important I get done. You don’t need to practice what you are already good at. While it’s satisfying to play the stuff you know you play well, you can get stuck in a trap of only playing what already sounds great and then you are avoiding the specific spots that are giving you trouble. I like to identify those problem spots, really isolating them and trying to achieve the sound I’m looking for.” –Ryan

“During the summer I can choose what to focus on. It gives me a lot of control, but the danger is not using time wisely. So right now I am focusing on really polishing a Schumann Fantasy. Make sure goals are specific to a piece or a technique you’d like to improve.” –Lauren

Get back to the basics.

“The benefit of the summertime is that you can return to some fundamentals that you don’t always have the mental energy or time to work on when you are in a rigorous school program. I like to revisit the technical issues of my playing and do some slow, really painstaking work. It takes up a lot of energy, and is a nice way to stay sharp.” –Ryan

Practice practicing.

“Because there is so much free time during the summer, I can really regiment my practicing. I can fine tune and actually practice my practicing with a little routine and discipline. It’s easy to get bogged down while you’re at school. It’s nice to take a break and build good habits.” –Nick

“One thing that’s really motivating me is thinking about how I am going to practice in college. When I go to college I’m not going to have anyone to tell me when to practice, so preparing myself mentally and emotionally for that is important.” –Lauren

Explore other music that interests you.

“Really know what interests you and just run with it. You can do your basic scales and arpeggios, then really dig down into stuff that’s interesting to you. For me, I love folk music, and I have plenty of time to do that during the summer.” –Nick

“I try to take advantage of the time off to explore other types of music. I’ve been doing a lot of recordings with a loop pedal and sampling machine. I’ve played a few shows late in the night and different types of concerts. I’ve gotten to play at a few weddings. It keeps you engaged with music and reminds you why you really enjoy it.” –Ryan

Have fun, and don’t overdo it.

“Mentally, when you are trying to make improvement, be sure to take breaks, stay well-hydrated, and well-rested, so you can put your whole mind into your practice. Over-practicing can be counterproductive.” –Lauren

“Enjoy yourself, because the last thing you want to do is start the school year burnt out. That’s a real danger. I’ve worked so hard in the summer that I wanted to put my feet up come September, and that’s the absolutely wrong time for that to happen.” –Ryan

“When you’re at school you have certain obligations, like assignments for playing and lessons, and it’s easy to forget that we are playing and we’re supposed to have fun with it. Take the time to breathe fresh air into the whole practice.” –Nick

Pianist Lauren Yoon graduated from the Music Academy this year, and will be attending the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the fall. Lauren is spending her summer teaching and practicing in her home of Los Angeles.

Nick Arrendondo is a double bassist in the Conservatory of Music, and a Music Academy graduate, who will be starting his sophomore year in the fall. He’s spending his summer at home with his family in Portland, Oregon.

Violist Ryan Davis is working on his Artist Diploma, and holds degrees from Yale University School of Music and McGill University. He’s splitting his summer between his home of Saskatchewan, and performing in the Festival Napa Valley Music Academy and at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.