Dear Friends,

Before we dive in, I want to let you know about some upcoming concerts. I’m currently preparing for a duo recital with flutist Susanna Self, and we’ll be performing twice this month:

📍 February 18 at Butler University (Indianapolis)

📍 February 23 in Door County, Wisconsin​

Our program features works by Hasse, Prokofiev, and Amanda Harberg. If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you there!

Now, let’s talk about a practice technique that has been a lifesaver for me this week: I like to call it the “Spot of the Day” technique.

The “Spot of the Day” Technique

As I just mentioned, I'm practicing for these recitals, and certain passages are proving especially stubborn. One in particular has been driving me crazy: a particularly tricky moment in the fourth movement of Prokofiev’s Flute Sonata (measures 5-6, to be exact).

I was getting frustrated. I’d practice it, and it would improve. But then, when I’d play it in context, it felt like a coin flip - sometimes I'd get it, and sometimes I wouldn't. And, let's face it: 50-50 odds are not what I want heading into a performance!

Then I remembered my “Spot of the Day” technique. This practice technique, which has come to the rescue many times in the past, relies on spaced repetition. Here’s how it works:

1. Pick one small, tricky passage that you can pretty much play, but not reliably - anywhere from one beat to two measures long. This is "The Spot."
2. Drill The Spot carefully until you can play it 5 times in a row without any errors (starting over at 0 if you mess up).
3. Set a timer for 10 minutes and practice something else - even a completely different piece.
4. When the timer goes off, return to The Spot and carefully practice it again until you have played it 5x in a row error-free.
5. Keep going like this, thoroughly practicing The Spot when the timer goes off, every 10 minutes.

But here’s the key: don’t just stop after one practice session! I revisited my tricky passage many times throughout the day: before teaching, after a meeting, in the evening, and even right before bed. The brain loves spaced repetition, and these short bursts of practice reinforce the passage far better than one long session of drilling (also known as "massed practice").

The next morning, I started the movement again, and suddenly, that stubborn Spot felt so much better.

If you’ve got a passage that refuses to behave, try the "Spot of the Day" technique out! Pick 1-3 Spots and “zap” them throughout the day. You’ll be amazed at how much more secure they feel.

Let me know if you give it a try - I’d love to hear how it works for you!

👋 Have a great week! Happy practicing! 🎹

-Kate

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This month’s Practice Theme: “Articulation & Touch"

Practice Tip: Playing Crisp Staccato

A good staccato adds energy, clarity, and character to your playing, but the trick isn’t force, it’s control. Good staccato requires that you stay light and nimble, and avoid large heavy motions.

Start by focusing on your fingers. Lift each fingertip cleanly and quickly off the key after it plays, like the keys are bouncing back at you. No need for big, exaggerated motions: think small and efficient and keep your fingers close to the keys, so your sound stays even and controlled. Slow staccato scales or five-finger patterns are great for refining this.

Your wrist matters, too! Keep it loose and flexible, letting it absorb the "recoil" of the fingers with subtle, springy motions. It's not dissimilar to the wrist motion you'd use dribbling a basketball. As you speed up, think about making your movements smaller and more efficient, staying even closer to the keys.

Most importantly, listen. Staccato should be short but not harsh or clipped. As you build speed, keep that clarity front and center. A crisp staccato isn’t about hitting the keys harder. It’s about releasing the keys precisely and lightly, and feeling the key release under your finger.

Challenge: The One-Octave Staccato Exercise

Choose a one-octave scale and play it staccato at a slow, steady tempo. Then, challenge yourself:

1. Play it pianissimo, keeping each note clear and distinct.
2. Gradually increase tempo without losing control
3. Experiment with different types of staccato sound: light and bouncy vs. sharp and loud.

Can you keep every note crisp and controlled, no matter the speed or dynamic? Give it a try!

💜 Some of My Favorite Things

1. Performance 🎶: Gabriel Fauré composed 13 Barcarolles for piano. His Barcarolle No. 5 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 66, is filled with chromaticism and drama before settling placidly at the end. Here's a masterful performance by Hélène Grimaud.​
2. Podcast 🎧: I have enjoyed listening to this podcast about the history of the piano, from BBC Radio 3: Piano Tales - A Social History of the Piano. (Just FYI - it's from 2012, and I had to download it to my computer to listen to it.)
3. Book 📚: Fundamentals of Piano Practice – Chuan C. Chang. This is an incredibly useful and detailed book about many, many aspects of playing the piano. Combe’s approach is highly specific and encompasses everything from piano technique to practice strategies. Available in Paperback or Kindle. Check out my other book recommendations here!​

🎹 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!