I’ve placed a lot of items on this list. Please don’t feel obligated to take them all on at once—maybe select a few that appeal to you immediately, and then chip away at the rest afterward.
1. Keep your practice journal close this week. When any of the following cross your mind, be sure to write them down:
- Things you need to practice
- Anything you need to research to bring your goals and challenges into better focus
- Any learning materials you might need
- Short-, medium-, and long-term goals of any kind
2. Find a quiet time and place to spend 10 minutes focusing on your breath. Remember to set a timer, sit up straight, close your eyes, and reset your attention on your breath whenever you notice it wandering. I think ten minutes of this daily has been amazingly helpful; see whether you agree.
3.Brainstorm some rewards you can offer yourself at the end of each practice session as a reward for showing up. Some ideas to get you started:
- Eat a favorite (hopefully healthy!) food
- Take a relaxing walk
- Enjoy a delicious hot or cold beverage
- Play or sing a favorite song
- Read a favorite poem
- Listen to some of your favorite music
4. Are there any things you’ve been meaning to learn but can’t seem to get started on? Write them down. Then go down the list and ask yourself whether you really understand the value in learning each one. If you’re not absolutely sure of why you’d spend the time and trouble on a particular item, make a note to research it further. (One way to do that is to email me at contact@lyricworkroom.com; I might be able to help—or find someone who can).
5. Leave yourself a bookmark at the end of each practice session this week. Tell yourself exactly where you left off and what you were working on when you stopped. Personally, I leave myself an index card on the music stand to make it effortless to get started again next time.
6. Experiment with using a timer during your practice sessions this week. Does it help you focus?
7. Keep the “Crawl, Walk, Run” strategy in mind as you begin learning something new—something as complex as learning a difficult classical piece or something as simple as learning some new figures of speech to use in your lyrics. How will you know when you’re ready to progress from “Crawl” to “Walk”? How will you know when you’re ready to Run?