Happy Holidays! With Thanksgiving behind us and December holidays just around the corner, stress and scheduling dilemmas are in full swing. It can be a struggle to travel and celebrate during this busy season while still maintaining your practice schedule, never mind staying healthy and sane while doing it. One of the hardest things to do is find a quiet, private place for you to practice and feel comfortable. If practicing where you’ll be staying isn’t an option, research the area you’ll be in before you travel. Are there any local churches nearby that will be unoccupied during the day? Is there a local college that has practice rooms available during the day? You can also search for rentable practice spaces if you’re in a large enough area.
No matter where you practice, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to let loose and practice at full volume. You still have practicing options!
Lip buzzing
This is a great way to practice with full air but little volume. It’s not always a simple thing to do, though. If you’re not able to buzz, try humming – but make sure your jaw or teeth are never clenched! Think of humming “ng” rather than “mm”.
Score study
This is something you can do during those long car or plane rides. For singers, the text often gets ignored but should get an equal part. Think through what dramatic/emotional choices you want to make with each line. It also gives you the chance to think through your breathing. For instrumentalists, reading through the music can help with memorization. It can help you think through difficult hand positions and allow you to make a practice plan for when you do have access to your instrument.
Shorter practice sessions
It’s unlikely you’ll have the same amount of time to dedicate to practicing. Use your time wisely! Select a few trouble spots and work on only those. This will help you to make valuable use of your limited time.
Claim your space!
Staying home for the Holidays? Before all the family arrives, claim a quiet, private space that lets you use the above methods without all the relatives bursting in every five minutes.
I hope that with these tips, you’ll see that practice is possible no matter where you’re going, who you’re with, or how little spare time you may have. Most important of all, enjoy your time with family and friends! Share with them what you’re working on, sing or play for them if you feel comfortable! Performance practice is always valuable, and family members love hearing your progress!
