Assignment 2 - Interactive Version

(set: $goal to "")(set: $pieces to (a: ""))(goto: "Welcome")

Welcome to the interactive version of our practice guide! (For the paper version, see [here]<paper|(click: ?paper)[(open-url:"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nxn_g0ulxiTmHwBbFkJQjl33m9vBGfYoL0Vw_mkjF9M/edit?usp=sharing")].) [[Let's get started.|Set a Goal]]

Every time you practice, you'll want to have a target you're aiming at. It will be difficult to be productive in your practice if you don't know what you actually want to be practicing. Are you trying to solidify the pitches of a certain passage? Memorize words? Figure out pronunciation? If you have several pieces, you may have more than one. Write that down here, being as specific as is helpful: (if: (visited: "Goal Setting Guide"))[(input-box: bind $goal, "X", 5, (str: $preliminarygoals))](else:)[(input-box: bind $goal, "X", 5)] //NOTE: remember that this practice session you're doing right now should NOT be the only practice that you do before your next lesson/rehearsal/etc. if you can help it! Many short practice sessions throughout the week are more effective than one gigantic block of practice—and will be kinder to your voice!// [[Got it!|Warm Up]] [[I need more help.|Goal Setting Guide]]

**(print: (passage:)'s name)** (if: $goal is not "")[(unless: (passage:)'s name is "End")[ (text-size: 0.5)[Your Goal(s): $goal]]] -----

Once you know what you want to achieve in your practice session, it's time to get singing! Let's start by warming up. If you have a warm up sequence you like, you can do that now, but here are some suggestions: 1) Take a moment to make sure your posture is good: make sure your stance is strong, and that you're not slouching or pushing your shoulders too far back. You can also take this time to take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of how you want to breathe for singing. 2) Start your vocalizing with something that's easy on your voice: one, two, or three notes. |== [List some options! I wanna pick!]<list1| ==| [Pick one for me, please.]<random1| |==| (click: ?list1)[(replace: ?list1)[](replace: ?random1)[] \* Long Tones: starting at a comfortable place in your voice, hold out one note for a long time, either humming or on a neutral syllable or vowel. Play around with dynamics, seeing how long you can hold the note for, etc. You can repeat this in multiple keys! * Humming: on a gentle hum (with your jaw relaxed/teeth apart, even though your mouth is closed), start by humming just one note for a long time (e.g. 8+ counts). Then, expand to humming two notes (1-2-1) and then three (1-2-3-2-1). You can repeat this in multple keys! * 1-2-3-2-1: <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%201.PNG" width="75%"> * Major/Minor: <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%202.PNG" width="75%">](click: ?random1)[(replace: ?list1)[](replace: ?random1)[] \* (either: "Long Tones: starting at a comfortable place in your voice, hold out one note for a long time, either humming or on a neutral syllable or vowel. Play around with dynamics, seeing how long you can hold the note for, etc.", "Humming: on a gentle hum (with your jaw relaxed/teeth apart, even though your mouth is closed), start by humming just one note for a long time (e.g. 8+ counts). Then, expand to humming two notes (1-2-1) and then three (1-2-3-2-1). You can repeat this in multple keys!", "1-2-3-2-1: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%201.PNG' width='75%'>", "Major/Minor: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%202.PNG' width='75%'>")] 3) Sing some warm ups with a range of up to 5 notes: |== [List some options! I wanna pick!]<list2| ==| [Pick one for me, please.]<random2| |==| (click: ?list2)[(replace: ?list2)[](replace: ?random2)[] \* <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%203.PNG" width="75%"> * <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%204.PNG" width="75%"> * <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%205.PNG" width="75%"> * <img src="https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%206.PNG" width="75%">](click: ?random2)[(replace: ?list2)[](replace: ?random2)[] \* (either: "<img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%203.PNG' width='75%'>", "<img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%204.PNG' width='75%'>", "<img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%205.PNG' width='75%'>", "<img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%206.PNG' width='75%'>")] 4) Finally, choose a warm up with a larger range: |== [List some options! I wanna pick!]<list3| ==| [Pick one for me, please.]<random3| |==| (click: ?list3)[(replace: ?list3)[](replace: ?random3)[] \* 'I love to sing': in any way you might have learned it! There are a few variations, so if you know one, you can use that. Otherwise, here's an option: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%207.PNG' width='75%'> * Sliding ver. A: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%208.PNG' width='75%'> * Sliding ver. B: in various keys, slide up an octave on a vowel/syllable of your choice, then slide back down. Pay attention to how this feels as you work through your range!](click: ?random3)[(replace: ?list3)[](replace: ?random3)[] \* (either: "'I love to sing': in any way you might have learned it! There are a few variations, so if you know one, you can use that. Otherwise, here's an option: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%207.PNG' width='75%'>", "Sliding ver. A: <img src='https://junkandstuuf2.neocities.org/Warm%20up%208.PNG' width='75%'>", "Sliding ver. B: in various keys, slide up an octave on a vowel/syllable of your choice, then slide back down. Pay attention to how this feels as you work through your range!")] [[Next|Rehearse]]

That's ok! Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out exactly where to go next. What piece(s) are you working on? (List up to 10, writing each on a new line.) (input-box: bind _music, "X", 5) \[Next]<continue|(click: ?continue)[ \(set: $pieces to (split: newline,_music)) ------ Cool! What do you think are the hardest parts in each of your pieces? (Or the parts that your teacher has asked you to work on?) \(if: $pieces's length <= 10)[(set: $counter to $pieces's length)(set: $total to $pieces's length + 1)](else:)[(set: $counter to 10)(set: $total to 11)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal1, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal2, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal3, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal4, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal5, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal6, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal7, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal8, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal9, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \(if: $counter is not 0)[ (print: $pieces's (a: $total - $counter)): (input-box: bind $tempgoal10, "X", 1)(set: $counter to it - 1)] \[Next]<continue2|(click: ?continue2)[ \ (if: $tempgoal1 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to (a: $tempgoal1))] \ (if: $tempgoal2 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal2)))] \ (if: $tempgoal3 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal3)))] \ (if: $tempgoal4 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal4)))] \ (if: $tempgoal5 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal5)))] \ (if: $tempgoal6 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal6)))] \ (if: $tempgoal7 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal7)))] \ (if: $tempgoal8 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal8)))] \ (if: $tempgoal9 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal9)))] \ (if: $tempgoal10 is not 0)[(set: $preliminarygoals to it + (a: (" " + $tempgoal10)))] ------- Excellent! On the next page, take one or two of those things you listed above and turn them into statements about what you want to achieve or work on (for example, if you said that a specific melody was difficult, you might say that you want to be able to sing that melody with minimal piano help). You do not need to use all of them in this practice session—if you have a lot of them, save them for a future practice session! The statements you wrote above will be copied into the text box on the next page, to help you remember them. [[Next|Set a Goal]]]]

This step is the bulk of your practice! Since you came up with your goal(s), you know what you're going to be working towards at this step. [I have one goal.]<one| [I have more than one goal.]<many| \(click: ?one)[(replace: ?one)[ With one goal, your job will be very focused, working on one thing and breaking it down and repeating as needed. No matter what, you'll want to do whatever you're doing more than once—don't just run through it one time and call it a day! For example, if you are working towards learning the melody in a specific part of your piece, you can sing those few measures repeatedly (breaking it down as needed), playing the pitches on a piano or listening to a recording of that particular part of your piece. Then, as you feel more comfortable with it, you can try singing it without playing/listening to every pitch. If you are working on pronunciation, you can speak through the words, comparing it to a reference if you have it (recording yourself can be helpful here!), then speak it to the rhythm of your piece, and then sing it. If you'd like, you can also end your practice session by singing through whichever thing you enjoy the most! [[Next|Reflect]]](replace: ?many)[]](click: ?many)[(replace: ?one)[](replace: ?many)[ \While you shouldn't necessarily be working on //every single thing// every time you practice, you may be working on a few small things in one practice session. Start by working on whichever goal you think is going to be the hardest. Figure out what the smallest step you can take is, and do it: in all of your practice, you'll want to break down your goal into steps, do them, and repeat—don't just run through it one time and call it a day! For example, if you are working towards learning the melody in a specific part of your piece, you can sing those few measures repeatedly (breaking it down as needed), playing the pitches on a piano or listening to a recording of that particular part of your piece. Then, as you feel more comfortable with it, you can try singing it without playing/listening to every pitch. If you are working on pronunciation, you can speak through the words, comparing it to a reference if you have it (recording yourself can be helpful here!), then speak it to the rhythm of your piece, and then sing it. Then, work on your second-hardest goal in that same fashion, working easier and easier as time goes on. You can also break up your practice into segments of a few minutes, and switch back and forth between goals, revisitng things you've already done to make sure they're solidified. You can end your practice session by singing whichever thing you feel best on or like the most! [[Next|Reflect]]]]

At the end of your practice session, you'll want to take some time to think about how it went. That way, you know where to go next and learn more about what kind of practice is most effective for you! Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve? If so, what is the next step you're going to take for that particular piece of music? If not, where can you pick back up next time you practice? What was the most difficult for you? The least? Is there anything that you think you'll need to ask your teacher for more help with? If you'd like, you can write down these musings here—or in a similar practice journal. (input-box: "X", 5) [[End]]

That's another bout of practice under your belt—and one more step towards improving as a musician! Enjoy a [random dog]<DOG|(click: ?DOG)[(open-url: "https://random.dog/")] if you'd like, and we'll see you in the practice room (or whatever practice space you use) again!