How To Practice On Vacation
If you’re like me you look forward to down-time in the summer.
Going away with the family is important for everyone’s psychological health as well as spending time together.
But how do you integrate violin practice into vacation? In a way that it doesn’t feel like too much work??
Not Just Work
For parents, helping kids understand that violin practice can go on during vacation is important for two reasons:
1) It helps them see the activity as play, and 2) it opens them to the idea that their violin is a natural part of their life.
Violin is not just something we do when we are “serious” or “at work.” We parents may view it as work, because we are the ones organizing it!
It is good to see violin practice differently though, to see it as natural, an organic part of our lives. It is good for our kids to see us integrating music practice into our lives, keeping it close even during time away.
It is good for our kids to see us integrating music practice into our lives, keeping it close even during time away.
How to do vacay practice
Here are nine suggestions for practice on vacation, especially when you cannot take your instrument along or you may have limited space.
Take the music with you
Listen to it together in the car - make it a family activity. You can do this in the car, on the plane, or at the beach. Pack the printed music or your current Suzuki book, and spend a few minutes looking over the notes. Even better, listen to the recording while looking at the music. This is the best way to use a long flight or drive, to keep the music fresh in your mind.
INVISIBLE VIOLIN
For strength and agility, muscle memory, and body awareness, play your invisible violin!
Nothing beats actually going through the motions of playing. In the air, as though you were really playing.
Train your body
Some people go to a gym when away from home to stay in shape.
We can do the same with music!
Violinists can train their arms, hands, fingers, and posture. For example, do 20 finger taps against your thumb, then switch fingers.
TIP: You can rehearse bowings with INVISIBLE VIOLIN (see step 2.)
Remember: it is your BODY that needs to learn, not just your brain.
Visualization
Visualize playing through a movement or section of a piece. Play along with it in your mind. Try to feel, hear, and see what is happening vividly. Do this sitting on the plane, laying in bed, or wherever you can close your eyes.
Use a Practice Mute
Practice mutes are great fun! It’s a heavy piece of metal that dampens sound on the bridge.
You can’t be heard from the next room! So you don’t have to worry about bothering family members—you can play early in the morning, or late at night, or whenever you feel like it.
Take Props and Toys
Take any portable practice games and toys along. Our students have been known to us Lego “audience” (they even make a violin lego person now!).
Bring a practice “partner” stuffed animal to listen or a finger puppet to balance on a straw-bow. Pack colored pencils to draw what you hear. And don’t forget LPS - The Leprechaun Practice System cards work great on vacation!
Play outside
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy playing outside. Walk around the garden, in the woods, along the boardwalk. Play for FUN, invent, let there be mistakes, it’s OK! Play for the trees, they’re a forgiving audience.
Make a no-screen time, no-device rule.
When kids are left to be bored they become creative. Let music be part of this non-device time (if only in their imagination).
Draw a picture. Help them listen to and imagine their practice piece music during this creative time. Draw a picture of the music, whatever comes to mind.
Don’t leave music behind
There’s a saying, “You don’t leave your brain behind on vacation.” It is time for mental renewal through rest, but not necessarily mental shut-down.
The same goes for music. Let practice be part of the flow of vacation. If there isn’t a strict boundary between violin and the rest of life, it will start to feel like a part of you.
Let practice be part of the flow of vacation.
The stimulation that comes from music practice will bring a kind rest and renewal through positive energy.