Monday, October 29, 2018

Asian Youth Orchestra: Ways to Become a Better Musician



There is always the desire to get better. At the Asian Youth Orchestra, we have not only a talented group of young, local musicians but a team of determined and motivated people.  The atmosphere only permits room for improvement. Every musician is motivated in a tripartite fold – by instructors, their peers, and their personal hunger. And of all three, personal hunger is the greatest.

As musicians, often times, we try so hard at our instruments, practicing constantly, reading and learning so much. And sometimes we struggle, and it leads to frustration. Below we have a few tips for our young musicians, whom are still working on honing their craft, on how-to improve their skills.


Create a Time Schedule and Stick To It

You are probably telling yourself right now, “I am not good at keeping time, this advice wont work for me. I am different”. This is often the thought pattern of an undisciplined musician. Great people in any sphere of life often create a permanent time on their schedule that they devote to whatever keeps them sharp. Lend the words of one of the richest men in the world, Warren Buffet, who said he devotes two hours each day to reading a book. It is called discipline, without which it will be difficult to succeed as a professional musician, if any truth be told.

Create a working timetable at first. Set apart some time to study the theoretic aspects of music and then, few hours to practice your instrument every single day. It surely helps not only your playing skills but your sense of professionalism.

Evaluate Yourself, Set Goals and Be Realistic

Self-evaluation is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a music professional. You should be able to score your performance while weighing it against other musicians and your teacher’s comments. Be honest and do not exaggerate your skills or suppress the quality you have. Acknowledge it and aim to build.

Setting goals where you need to be very realistic. Design meaningful goals that you can achieve within a reasonable time. You will be surprised how many milestones you can reach by the end of each month. However, you may also set long term goals, such as becoming the lead musician in your department.

Practice, Take Breaks and Practice More

It may be easy for some folks to learn instruments, maybe hard for others to learn the same. However, one thing is constant – mastery takes time, energy(practice) and patience. Mastery of your instrument is beyond just showing off skills. You must understand the instrument and music as a whole. To achieve this, you must constantly and consistently practice. Development comes when you master the art of consistent practice.

Also learn to take breaks. Your brain, muscles and body need it. Take breaks at the right time, so you can reserve more energy to practice more.

Listen to Related and Unrelated Music Performances

Listening to music performances exposes your mind to new styles, methods and other benefits. You can engage in active listening and passive listening. Regardless, listening to music unconnected with your assignment or work at hand will always keep your mind sharp.

About us:

Founded by violinist Yehudi Menuhin and conductor Richard Pontzious as East Asia's counterpart to European youth orchestras, the 100 plus members of The Asian Youth Orchestra attend three weeks of musical training in Hong Kong, followed by performance opportunities and international concert touring experiences. Be sure to follow Asian Youth Orchestra on Facebook and Instagram for 2019’s audition and tour dates and details!

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