1st Idea (not entirely novel, but completely innovative, nevertheless): Keep smiling and have fun especially when the going gets tough (or out of tune!)

2nd Idea (this one is fresh out of the oven): Stay curious! Get it wrong with enthusiasm and gusto. Mistakes are the most underrated harbingers of progress.

🥁What to do:

🎧LISTEN!!

1. Listen to all of your music, one piece at a time.
2. Listen to it as often as you can, and focus on hearing your own part.
3. Listen to it again, this time focusing on the opposite voice (from you) as register, in the group. Ex: if you’re a violin, choose the cello next, then the viola, then the cello again, then the second violin.
4. The last time you listen, try hearing where the melody is, and mark it on your part: It is your moment! 🎉

🥁All this helps you focus on getting those notes as clearly and in tune as possible, using the bow with even more generosity than usual.

🥁Once a day or up to three times a week (if possible), try doing this with the score in front of you. Most of them are available on IMSLP.

🎻🎺🎹🎶PRACTICE!

When you practise, do it slowly. And slower than that!😊

You may want to start with one of the most difficult passages:

• play one note at a time, in slow crotchets, separate bows, without the written rhythm, just get the notes to flow as comfortably as possible, one after the other, almost mindlessly… and, maybe, in tune 🎻🎹🎺
• 🥁(For the faster passages, use rhythms:
  • 
• the uncomfortable shifts 🎻 (or jumps 🎹)
• the double stops 🎻 (or wider chords 🎹)
• the awkward string crossings 🎻
• Then indulge yourself in playing through one of your favourite ones.

🥁Take 5min breaks every 30 min or so. Concentration fades around that time, and starting fresh soon after reinforces it.

🥁What to do in your breaks: 🌞

• Stretch your arms, open your chest and breath in deeply. Exhale vigorously and smile 😊 (Your brain will get the message that you are doing the right thing for you!)
• Repeat
• Drink a glass of water
• Walk to another room and back, (or even better: outside and back in).

At all times, remember that the fastest way to get better, is… slowly!🐢

It will make everything run 🐇 (smoothly!) when playing together 🎻🎹🎻

“All or Something”🌱🤞is much more helpful and practical than “All or Nothing”.

🥁You don’t need perfection. Instead, seek consistency and patience, which build reliability and a secure base. Collaborations flourish, harmonies find each other with more ease when everyone involved knows their part a little better:)

When Playing Together 🎻🎹🎶🎺

🥁🎊When you get a chance to meet with your group:

1. Play through your chosen piece at a slow enough tempo so it’s comfortable for everyone to play all the notes.
2. Check for dynamics and exaggerate them when possible.
3. Mark changes:
   • Of key
   • Of tempo
   • Of character
   • 🥁Make sure the markings are clear on paper and aim to reflect them in your playing after the note finding practice. Not all notes will happen immediately so please allow for character and dynamic changes anyway. Go back to finding more notes on the next practice session:)
4. Mark down 3 or more places that you feel you might need coaching with, first.
5. Find any sticky points: entrances, stopping together, awkward rhythms. Mark them down.
6. Do work on the sense of ensemble (same speed, or slowness, watch the voices interaction, and rests) at the beginning and the end of pieces (8-16 bars on both), and aim to feel safer playing them together than when you first played it.
7. Also pick one letter or three or so lines in the middle for the same purpose: work on it in more detail, for the ensemble cohesion to grow.
8. Congratulate yourself on your good work! Enjoy your rest and have fun doing it all again soon!

Most importantly, keep having fun!🎻🎶🎺🌞🎹