What do your belongings mean to you?

Posted on Categories Lifestyle, Parents, Self-care

For a while now there has been a growing voice of discontent with how we live our lives.
I mean in relation to how much we consume and how that impacts on our quality of life.
It began with becoming aware of how much clutter we have. One of the first things a Feng Shui expert will tell you is, clear the clutter.
I know I have certainly felt the relief when I have finally sorted through things that have been put off. There’s nothing quite like moving house to force me into seeing how much I am needlessly carrying around.
These days I notice there are more and more books and documentaries about living with less.
It’s the idea that our underlying discontent manifests in our stuff, our belongings.
People like Marie Kondo and The Minimalists are offering us an alternative viewpoint to the massive consumption way of living.
Frankly, I think what they are saying is highly important.
One of the things Marie Kondo talks about is Spark Joy.
“Only keep the items that spark joy for you”.

It is such a simple thing, but a profound thing isn’t it.
So I am thinking about all the many people who have said to me that they would LOVE to play the piano but they don’t have the space for it. Is that really true?
Really?
On the one hand they are saying it would be a soul choice for them, a heart choice that would bring many years of pleasure to them and their loved ones.
On the other hand they are saying that they can’t have that because they must keep their accumulation of belongings (possibly meaningless?) that they are keeping for reasons they might not be aware of.

It actually makes me rather sad to witness this, knowing the deep satisfaction that playing the piano can bring.
Have you seen this amazing advertisement featuring the gift of a piano to the very young Elton John.
Some tissues nearby might be a good idea – it’s powerful! 🙂

If you go to YouTube and search for
John Lewis Christmas Advertisement 2018 Elton John.

Tell me if you enjoy the adv?
Lots of love
Pamela

How do I get my child to do music practise?

Posted on Categories Achievement, Kids, Learning music, Parents
Pareto Principle 80% results from 20% effort

Maintaining practise is one of the rather difficult aspects of learning to play a musical instrument.

It can feel like a never-ending path into an unknown future. This path is filled with good intentions on the part of the teacher and student but often ends up being full of frustration!

What if we viewed practise differently?

Mostly, parents focus on practise.

In the very beginning that is all a student can do.

As they progress though, is that still necessary or even ideal?

What if they spent 80% of their time playing what they love for pleasure, fun and purely enjoying the skill they have? Playing the pieces they can already play and enjoy. Playing to fill themselves up with joy and a feeling of accomplishment.

I recall Petrea King, the well-known and respected healer saying “give from the overflow of your well-nourished bucket”. For piano players that is playing the music they love.

How might they feel if you regularly encourage them to play music you enjoy listening to and music they love playing, filling both of you up with wonderful music?

I imagine you would be feeling great about yourself and so would they, and your life and their playing would positively spill over into other areas of your family life. The piano then becomes a place of solace to retreat to after a hard day or a place of meditation, relaxation, love and connection.

From this place, piano practise takes on a whole different tone.

Instead of a kind of boring piano practise purgatory, it could be something to relish. They might even be motivated to tackle something more challenging. It gives practise more meaning.

What if we apply the famous 80-20 rule to piano practise?

80% Playing the music you love
20% Practise – highly strategically focussed and goal oriented

Do I hear you say 20% isn’t enough?
It’s amazing what can be achieved in a very short time when we are strategic and focussed. 20% of 10minutes is 2 minutes.  A lot can be done in just 2 minutes! So much practise is not effective or productive. There is quite an art to effective practise.

If your child is enjoying practising and has lost sense of the time, and it’s more than 20%, do you stop them or let them keep going?  That of course is up to you. You know your child the best.
From my experience it is better to stay with the 20%, rein it in, keep it stable and return the following day eager to do more.

Want to know more about the art of effective practise?  Email here

Pamela Jordan is a degree qualified, experienced music educator on Sunshine Coast, Qld. Australia.
She is available for online consultations.

Are you struggling in a corporate job, feeling empty & craving creative expression? I can help you.