Emma Tomlinson has put together this checklist for us on how to practice with the goal of being a better musician. Print this page so it is easy to look at or download the pdf.
- Record yourself (doesn’t need to be fancy – you can record on most gadgets nowadays)
- Listen back and write down a list of things to work on
- Make a practice timetable to address points individually with a time frame
- Start each practice session with a specific goal
- Leave each practice session having completed that goal or identified a separate issue for another practice session
- Repeat this process until all issues are resolved
- Remember that this a fun process and don’t stop enjoying your music!
Emma Tomlinson is a viola/fiddle player and tutor from Liverpool and has moved to Glasgow to pursue a musical career in classical, traditional performance and composition. Her current projects include ‘Routes’ a Trad. String Quartet and she is composing for McFall’s Chamber for the Distil Showcase in April. Emma provides instrumental tuition for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s outreach program, Music Works; Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and for Kilmarnock Music Service. Her performance history includes Celtic Connections with Routes, music festivals with Liverpool based band, The Random Family and freelance work for String Quartets and Orchestras. She studied a Masters of Research degree focusing on Chamber Music and also holds a BSc Hons in Music and Psychology. She has studied Viola under Alex Robertson (RNCM) and on the Lake District Summer Music course under Garfield Jackson (RAM) and Yuko Inoue (RAM).
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