Best Practices on Practice Workshop
This workshop is an interactive conversation about practice behaviors, motor learning theory, and performance. We discuss my research and its conclusions, as well as how to create a practice plan to structure the best ways to see measured improvement. During this time where most of us are staying home and are isolated from collaborative music making, this presentation teaches us ways to create measurable goals, foster productivity, and facilitate growth centered around specific targets. My “Best Practices for Practice” workshop can be tailored to target high school students that are serious about growth, teachers looking for a professional development opportunity, and undergraduate musicians. The workshop can be fit to any class period length and I am equipped for high-quality streaming.
Randomization and Chunking.
How long do you practice in a week? How successful are your practice sessions? What is your process when you teach or learn a new piece? This workshop provides evidence based techniques which will optimize your practice sessions to promote long term accuracy and retention.
Plan it.
Never leave a practice session or rehearsal wondering what was accomplished again.
Step 1: Create specific goals associated with segments of music or an exercise.
Step 2: Write your plan.
Step 3: Randomize and chunk. Don’t practice one section for more than five minutes.
Step 4: Evaluate the practice session.
Schedule
Previous Workshops: New England Conservatory of Music; SNATS Guest Speaker, High Point University Guest Speaker, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Music Academy of North Carolina, North Carolina Music Educator’s Association Virtual Conference, Stetson University, Gardner-Webb College, Guilford College, Castleton University
“The "Best Practices for Practice" workshop provided my collegiate music students with useful, practical information to improve their practicing skills. She presented the information in an approachable and interactive manner that kept the students engaged. I highly recommend this workshop for music students of any level!”
-Dr. Evan Leontis, Castleton University, 2021
“The Best Practices on Practice Workshop was so helpful to our students heading into a new semester. Her recommendations are based on quantitative research and presented in an engaging manner.”
— Dr. Anna Hersey, University of Wisconsin -OshKosh, 2020
“The Best Practices on Practice Workshop was phenomenal for our student NafME chapter. She presented. her findings in a clear and concise manner that I could see sparking lightbulbs for our students. Michaela also provided specific applications for the repertoire that some of the students were currently working, as well as tie ins for our instrumental majors.”
-Dr. Eric Johnson, Gardner-Webb College, 2020
“Michaela did a great job with her Best Practices Workshop. It was clear, well-paced and helpful to my students.”
— Dr. Scott MacLeod, High Point University, 2020
“Michaela's presentation was informative and engaging for our students. It is imperative for them to hear attainable practice goals in a variety of ways to apply them throughout their voice education. Even our faculty learned new strategies for our own practicing sessions! We would love to have Michaela back again to continue this essential conversation.”
-Stephanie Foley Davis, Music Academy of North Carolina, 2020
“Michaela's practice workshop is extremely helpful and practical for singers of all ages and stages. Her down-to-earth approach and explanation of best practices for singing practice was so beneficial for all participants in her NEC SNATS presentation and even included a handy reference worksheet to take home with specific steps for everyone's next practice room session. For the activity of practicing that musicians repeat every day, this topic is extremely important and sorely needed (but often lacking in a typical music school curriculum). Thanks to Michaela, understanding the methodology of motor learning theory as it pertains to practicing singing is finally broken down in a palatable and relatable manner.
-- Theodora Nestorova, President of NEC SNATS, 2020
Book Now
“Best Practices for Practice” workshop can be tailored to target high school students that are serious about growth, teachers looking for a professional development opportunity, and undergraduate musicians. The workshop can be fit to any class period length and I am equipped for high-quality streaming.