Dear Friends,

Greetings from snowy Indianapolis! I’m excited to have flutist Susanna Self in town this week as we rehearse for our upcoming concerts on Tuesday February 18 at Butler University (livestream link) and Sunday February 23 in Door County, Wisconsin (link to tickets). Our program includes a Hasse Sonata, Amanda Harberg’s Fireflies Triptych, and the Prokofiev Flute Sonata - if you're in the area for either event, I'd love to see you!

With the semester now in its fifth week, my students and I are settling into a rhythm. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the role of habits and routines in sustaining creative work, especially during busy times.

Practicing is so much easier when it’s automatic: when sitting down at the piano isn’t up for debate, but simply something you do, whether you “feel like it” or not. But for students juggling classes, rehearsals, and countless other demands, establishing that consistency can be a challenge.

I encourage them not just to schedule their practice time, but to treat practice as an unmissable routine — a non-negotiable part of their day that doesn’t require willpower or decision-making.

But even with a set routine, what happens when you sit down to practice but can’t focus? Or when a notification pops up? What about when you suddenly remember that “quick thing” you forgot to do?

The Power of Ritual

In her book The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, choreographer Twyla Tharp talks about the importance of establishing rituals at the start of any creative practice. For her, it’s not the workout itself that signals the start of her day: it’s the moment she hails a cab to the dance studio.

A "pre-practice ritual" is like stepping through a doorway, into a mental and emotional space where you are leaving behind distractions and mentally preparing to focus. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it should be something that consistently signals: it’s time to work.

Tharp writes:

For me, my pre-practice ritual is simple: I make a cup of tea, open my practice journal, and turn off my phone. Those small actions flip a switch in my brain, taking me from the distractions of my everyday life to a place where I am prepared to focus.

What’s Your Pre-Practice Ritual?

Do you have a routine that helps you settle into practice mode? I’d love to hear about it! Reply and let me know; I might share some of your ideas in a future newsletter.

👋 Have a great week! Happy practicing! 🎹

-Kate

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Practice TIP of the week:

Each month, I focus on a specific theme for practice tips. This month’s theme is Articulation & Touch.

In case you missed them, here are the tips so far:
🎵 Feb 2: Seamless Legato​
🎵 Feb 9: Playing Crisp Staccato​

Today's Practice Tip: Playing Effective Accents

Accents are one of the most important articulation markings used for musical expression. An accent adds intensity and creates contrast, much like when you emphasize a single word or syllable in a sentence. A well-placed accent can propel a phrase forward, create a sense of arrival, or even highlight a surprise. But an accent isn’t just about playing a note louder; it’s about making it stand out musically.

What Does an Accent Actually Do?

An accent tells the listener: this note is important. But the way you bring it out depends on the musical context. When you are looking at an accent, pay careful attention to the time signature. If an accent is on a strong beat, it will have a different feel than if the accent is on a "weak" beat.

Often you will see accents on weak beats in order to emphasize that for the moment you are departing from the metric hierarchy of beats implied by the time signature. For example, if a piece is in 3/4 and you see an accent mark over a note on the second beat, the composer is putting emphasis on a part of the measure that is typically not emphasized.

Understanding the character of the accent in a given phrase helps determine how to play it.

Technique Lesson: How to Play an Accent Effectively

• Drop with your forearm quickly into the bottom of the key, in order to increase the key speed for that note.
• Think of a quick rebound and release your weight from the bottom of the key.
• Avoid overplaying - in many musical contexts, an accent should be nuanced, not harsh or violent.
• Keep the surrounding notes light so the contrast is clear.
• Most importantly, listen. A well-placed accent should feel intentional, like a speaker emphasizing just the right word.

This week's exercise: Practicing Varied Accents

Take a short sixteenth-note passage or scale and experiment with different accent patterns:

1. Accent every second note (ONE-two-ONE-two…), or (one-TWO-one-TWO)
2. Accent every third note (ONE-two-three-ONE…)
3. Accent every fourth note (ONE-two-three-four-ONE…)

As you play, keep the unaccented notes as light and even as possible. This exercise will help you improve your ability to accent just one note within the context of a musical phrase.

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💜 Some of My Favorite Things

1. Performance 🎶: I've had Liszt on my mind lately. Here's an unforgettable performance of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Vladimir Horowitz.
2. Article 📰: This article from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (also with audio) explores Bartolomeo Cristofori's invention of the modern piano in the 18th century. It delves into the instrument's evolution and Cristofori's innovative hammer mechanism that allowed for dynamic expression, setting the stage for the modern piano.
3. Book 📚: Clara Schumann: The Artist and the Woman – Nancy B. Reich. This is a fascinating deep dive into the life and legacy of one of the most influential pianists and composers of the 19th century. More than just Robert Schumann’s wife, Clara Schumann was a virtuoso, composer, and musical trailblazer who shaped concert traditions and championed great composers of her time. Reich’s biography brings Clara’s story to life, offering rich historical context and insight into her remarkable career, artistry, and resilience in a male-dominated world. Available on Kindle or Paperback. Check out my other book recommendations here!​
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🎹 Stay Connected:

• 📆 Book a lesson or a coaching session with me. I have updated my available dates through the end of February!
• 🎓 Contact me to learn about applying to study with me at Butler University at the undergraduate or master's level. You can also see ​Butler University’s audition schedule​ if you are interested in studying with me in Indianapolis. Go Dawgs! 🐾
• 📚 Check out my resource pages, where I share my recommended books, technical exercises, gear and more!
• 🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube channel!
• 📱Follow me on Instagram!