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Stop Sloppy Practice

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We need to practice with intention, focus, and precision to maximize the effectiveness of our practice sessions. Here are some key points to consider if, like me, you want to eliminate sloppy practice habits.

  1. Pay attention to detail. Sloppy practice often results from overlooking small details such as fingerings, articulations, dynamics, and rhythm. Pay close attention to these elements and strive for accuracy in every aspect of your playing.

  2. Slow It Down. Practicing slowly allows you to focus on …

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Roadblock in Your Way?

We have all gotten to the point with a new tune when we felt like pulling our hair out … or putting it aside because we just can’t “get it.” But, at the same time, we like the tune so much we hate to give up on it. Research has shown that people get set in their ways, stick with the familiar, and do the same things the same way over and over. And this tendency can spill over into your dulcimer practice – bringing you to a dead stop at a roadblock. I have a few suggestions for getting around th…

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Calming Techniques

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Do you get nervous before a performance, or even a jam session. I do, and I have another performance coming up in 3 weeks. So I want to share a few calming techniques that can help you (and myself) manage anxiety and focus your mind before the event.

  • Deep Breathing: Deep breathing exercises can significantly reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique involves tensing and then releasing each muscle group in your body, starting from your toes and…

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Benefits of a Repertoire List

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I played a concert for a group of seniors on September 9th – right between Labor Day and 9/11, the annual day of remembrance for the terrorist attack. The concert date wasn’t selected for that reason … it was just the normal 2nd Monday meeting date. But the playlist was a no-brainer for me. I just had to brush up on my patriotic repertoire list.


A repertoire list is a list of pieces that you have mastered and could confidently perform at any given time. It should include a variety of styles an…

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It’s not the What, When, or Where! It’s the “How!”

How

I believe that It's the “how” you're practicing that makes a difference in the quality and effectiveness of your practice sessions. Simply going through the motions without focus or intentionality may not yield the desired results in terms of skill improvement and musical growth. Here are some key points to consider.

  1. Focused practice: Concentrating on specific goals and areas of improvement during practice sessions can lead to more significant progress. Identify your weaknesses or challenging pas…

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Try That Again, Slowly

Caution SLOW DOWN

Is there any benefit to playing something more slowly if you don’t have to? Absolutely! Actually, playing a tune at a slower tempo is sometimes more challenging that playing it at your normal speed. But it’s worth the effort and here are some of the benefits.

  1. Builds Muscle Memory: Slow practice allows your muscles to memorize the correct movements and positions.
  2. Improves Accuracy: Slowing down gives you the time to focus on hitting the correct notes, rhythms, and articulations.
  3. Enhan…

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The 3 S’s of Learning Anything!

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There are three words of advice that begin with the letter “S” that will apply to mastering anything you want to learn – not just learning to play the dulcimer.

  1. Schedule Regular Practice: Consistent practice is essential for improving your skills and mastering an instrument (or any hobby). Set aside dedicated time each day to practice, even if it's just for a short period. Regular practice helps build muscle memory, improve technique, and enhance overall musicality.

  2. Stick with It: Learn…

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New Feature: Audio Enhancement

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There is another new feature/tool in DulcimerCrossing and I made video to describe it to you!

Sometimes it helps to enhance the audio in our lessons or workshop archives.

NewFeatureEnhancedAudio


Click the image above or

click here to watch

The "ear-shaped" icon is the tool which is available by the audio volume control of any audio or video in our site.

Try it out and let us know how it helps you!   Who knows?  Maybe this can assist you in learning to play by "ear."

ahem...

Steve Eulberg


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Accountabili-buddies

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Accountability

With any creative pursuit, accountability is a necessary and beneficial tool to keep us moving through our various creative processes so that we can actually help our imagination take shape in the world outside of our brains

This is also a word that can cause some of us to sort of slink away because it feels "too much like work" or "I feel guilty when I don't practice" or "I'm afraid I really can't DO this".

There have been times when I have heard those phrases passing through …

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New Feature: Transcriptions of All Video Lessons

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I am so excited about this new tool and feature in DulcimerCrossing that I had to make a video to describe it to you!

For those of us who are helped by reading what is being spoken in a video, we have upgraded our platform in order to provide closed-captioning AND transcripts of all of our video lessons in our 220+ courses.

Screen Shot 2024-07-27 at 11.27.47 AM

Click the image above or

click here to watch

We are creating Transcriptions of all of our over 3,000 videos in the DulcimerCrossing site.  Not every lesson has the vide…

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