A Sensory Challenge to Amp Up Your Learning

We have a sensory challenge for you today.

 

Feel like your focus is getting blurry in the practice room? This exercise is great for getting back to center, for a change of pace, and it can really amp up your learning.

 

So, grab your clarinet!! Or, save this for your practice session later. 😉 

 

Here's what you're going to do: 

 

Take a passage you've been working on. The length is up to you. 

 

#1: Look 👀  REALLY look at the music. Don't look ahead. Focus on every single thing you can catch with your eyes as you play the passage. 

 

#2: Feel 🤚  Look at the music, but focus on feeling your fingers as much as you can. What does each note, each interval, each placement feel like? Then, you can change to feeling your core, your embouchure, or anything else you want to isolate. 

 

#3: Listen 👂  Close your eyes. Play as much of the passage from memory as you can. (This works wonders for technical passages that are becoming a thorn in your side.) Your only job is to LISTEN. Do you even know what that technical passage sounds like?! It's sort of scary that the answer for all of us at times may be no! We're just… moving our fingers and saying a prayer.

 

We use our senses so intensely when we are trying to learn - as a matter of fact, they are the primary means we humans use to gain new knowledge! Although we can't really separate one sense from the other completely, giving yourself the chance to use one sense intensely, even for a couple of minutes, can unlock new pathways in your brain. 🔐  Freakin COOL!