Written by Veronica Kulek, Class of 2023
With classes being online this semester, every day blends into the next. Building a set schedule for each day and week is a good way to get assignments done and stay productive. As musicians, we already include a lot of routine into our lives in the form of practice sessions. Most of us likely have a routine warm up and set goals for practicing so that we don’t spend all of our time noodling and can monitor our progress. Personally, I start with warmups that cover all the bases as to what I may be playing that day, do some fundamentals, and finish my time in the practice room off with etudes and solo pieces. Rinse, repeat, and add in some fun pieces here and there. Each musician has a different practicing routine that works for them, and the key is finding the things that will work for you. Routine can go further than practice- it can help us get more done every day.
Getting Things Done
The phrase “getting things done” is subjective to every person, but I think we can all agree that it's a good thing. For music majors, we have academic goals as well as musical ones. We have music theory, history, tech, and education classes on the academic side of the spectrum, while aural skills and our own personal musical progress is on the other (more performance-based) end. There are a lot of assignments we have to complete weekly, and setting a time and day for when to work on them can help us not feel so overwhelmed. Starting each day with a productive routine means you can make the most of Zoom University. Rolling out of bed 5 minutes before class begins and keeping the camera off is a place we’ve all been before. Waking up an hour or so before class, having breakfast and some coffee, and going over notes before class will help you feel better when class starts. Having a good start to your day really gives you the momentum needed to get work done.
In school, back when it was in person, I’m sure every music major can relate to going into the practice rooms in those 40 minute gaps between classes. In my opinion, the most motivating part of physically going to school for class was being in the school environment. Getting assignments done between classes and having good practice sessions a few times a day was a staple of most of our in-person education. Something that I’ve found helps me stay in a productive mindset is going to a desk to have class and using the time in between classes for practicing. Switching up your environment every now and then will help a lot with Zoom fatigue and help get you into a school mindset. Establishing a routine of when you will practice during the day for every day has helped me make progress playing this semester as well. When each day feels the same, as most have with quarantine, it becomes pretty important to track school and musical progress.
Google Calendar and To-Do Lists
Contrary to the subject of this blog post, I don’t think everyday should be exactly the same as the one before it. But, I do think having similar day to day structures is a huge help in completing work daily and making sure you get done what needs to get done. Google Calendar is a huge help for me personally, but even just writing a to-do list can help you be more productive. Having a schedule can be a huge help, but always schedule in some personal down time. With online school this semester, things that we meant to do can slip our minds more easily. A visual representation of things left to do and things completed can help with being productive and stay on track with school. Being at school physically gives us, as students, a lot of structure that is now gone with the absence of in person classes. Getting in the routine of (for some classes) completing the homework right after class while the material you just learned is still fresh in your head is a routine that is pretty easy to implement and has a nice payoff. Another good routine to establish could be going to office hours or setting up tutoring sessions. If you can make the most of your Mondays-Fridays, the weekends become a lot more peaceful.
Where to begin?
As with most things in life, the key is to start small. This is your daily routine and the only person it has to work for is you. Starting with something as simple as waking up a little earlier, or going to office hours, are small steps that can really help you succeed this semester. It is very important to make time for relaxing and for things you enjoy doing. Making these changes can be difficult- don’t beat yourself up if you’re having a tough time adjusting. This is a very challenging time in the world we live in and all steps you take towards goals are progress.
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