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Dear Friends,
Greetings from London, England! My husband and I have been here for a couple of weeks, and we are having a wonderful time. I hope you are happy and well, wherever you are!
This time of year always brings familiar music: soundtracks in stores switch over to the “Christmas soundtrack” about six weeks before Christmas, surrounding shoppers with the sounds of the season, whether we want it or not!
On Christmas Day, my husband and I attended a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, where we heard the St. Paul’s Cathedral choir sing Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai ("The Mass of St. Nicholas") in its original context: as liturgical music sung throughout a service, interspersed with scripture readings, prayers, and hymns.
Hearing the Haydn mass as part of the Christmas service at St. Paul’s, a place with soaring arches and light filtered through stained glass windows, felt completely different than hearing that piece in a concert setting. It was a reminder that these days, more often than not, audiences will encounter sacred works in concert, not liturgical, settings.
This experience has made me think about the nature of musical “tradition.” In our modern world, so much music is performed outside of its original context, for example this mass sung in a concert setting. Yet, these works still speak to us across centuries. They endure because they connect us to something greater, something beyond the present moment, whether it is experienced as explicitly “religious” or not.
As the calendar year ends and a new one begins, I find myself grateful for these moments of connection, and for music that has the power to lift us out of our everyday experiences, regardless of whether we are experiencing it in a historic cathedral or within the privacy of our own headphones.
Wishing you a happy New Year, and best wishes for the year ahead!
👋 Have a great week! Happy practicing! 🎹
-Kate
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This Week's Practice Tip: Reflect and Set Musical Goals
With just two days left in 2024, this is the perfect time to reflect on your year of piano study and set your sights on 2025. As you think about the progress you’ve made and the new horizons you’d like to explore, consider setting SMART goals for your piano practice. Learning to write clear, actionable goals has been a game-changer for my students, and I believe it can do the same for you.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART is an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These five qualities can help you craft effective goals. Here’s how you can apply them to your music practice:
Specific
Avoid vague objectives like “practice more” or “work on technique.” Instead, identify exactly what you want to focus on. For example:
- How much and how often will you practice?
- Which specific techniques or repertoire will you target?
- If studying music theory, what concepts (e.g., identifying triad inversions or key signatures) will you aim to master?
Measurable
A measurable goal lets you track progress and know when you’ve succeeded. For example, instead of saying, “play scales faster,” try, “play all major scales in sixteenth notes at 100 bpm.” Even goals that seem harder to quantify can often be broken down into measurable objectives – get creative!
Attainable
Set goals that challenge you but remain realistic. While it might not be feasible to learn all 32 Beethoven sonatas in a year, mastering one or two well-chosen sonatas could be a fantastic stretch goal. If in doubt, consult your teacher to ensure your targets are within reach.
Relevant
Align your goals with your long-term dreams and desires. If you’re focused on excelling in classical music, mastering lead sheets may not be your priority. But if your dream is to accompany singalongs at gatherings, lead sheet skills could be essential.
Time-bound
Set deadlines to create focus and accountability. For example, if you’re preparing for a recital in June, plan specific milestones: when to learn the notes, refine details, and memorize each piece. Breaking larger goals into monthly or quarterly chunks can help you stay on track.
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Quote of the Week
“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke
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💜 Some of My Favorite Things
- Louis Vierne's Final from Symhony No. 1, Op. 14. I heard this recently on the five-manual organ at St. Paul's Cathedral. Here's a performance by Jonathan Scott, played on the organ of Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, England.
- I always enjoy perusing the "Best Classical Music Albums" from The New York Times, and this year's list does not disappoint!
- I recently saw an adorable children's book called The Bear and the Piano, by David Litchfield. It's about a bear's journey from obscurity in the woods to fame on a concert stage, and his love for the piano. Here's a video of the author himself reading it out loud!
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Copyright 2024 Kate Boyd, All rights reserved.
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