Stop trying to rush ahead
A focus tip for your music practice
Includes a guided meditation for musicians and music students
Do you ever rush ahead in your music practice — thinking about the next note, the next section, or even what’s for lunch? It’s surprisingly easy to leave the moment, especially when you’re sight reading or learning new material.
In today’s video, I share a helpful reminder from Dame Nellie Melba that shifted how I approached my own vocal exercises — and why staying with just one note at a time can reveal so much more in your playing or singing.
You’ll also get a guided meditation at the end to help you centre your awareness in the present moment of your practice, one note at a time.
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Many musicians find themselves stuck in a cycle of “productive procrastination” — spending hours reading, watching videos, or buying gear without actually practicing.
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It’s a frustrating feeling: you’re trying to be a good student, but the practice tasks you’re given feel boring, confusing, or disconnected from what you want to play.
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Taking a break from music — whether it’s been days, months, or even years — can stir up guilt, self-doubt, or a fear that we’ve lost something we’ll never get back.
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Sometimes our music goals feel so big they actually stop us from practicing.
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When we are learning music, especially if we are teaching ourselves, we often just want someone to hand us a method book and tell us exactly what to practice.
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When we learn an instrument or to sing, some days feel amazing, some feel frustrating, and some even feel boring.