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NWISC students to perform in Valpo's new amphitheatre!
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Summer Rhapsody
| NWISC students have been invited to perform in Valpo's beautiful new downtown amphitheatre during Summer Rhapsody's first full season.
This is an honor and a wonderful opportunity! We are starting preparation in our group classes already. Watch for additional rehearsals to come, and start getting excited about July! |
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Greetings!
Congratulations to all of the 100 Day Challenge participants! I have heard such exciting discoveries resulting from taking on the challenge.
There are students who have become self-motivated, practicing without their parents saying anything about it, for the first time in years. There are students who were already self-motivated but inconsistent who have experienced how much easier - and consequently more fun - their playing gets when they prioritize practicing every day without exception.
One of my hopes for every student is that each one at some point has the experience of daily practice for a long stretch of time (such as 100 days). I hope this not for the sake of the practicing itself, but because of the benefits I know students will experience as a result. The improvement to their playing is merely the beginning. Now, as we look beyond the dates of the first official NWISC 100 Day Challenge, I offer a few thoughts about different ways to approach the process of practicing. I also am excited to announce that NWISC students have been invited to perform in Summer Rhapsody's first full season! This is an amazing opportunity.  | | Orchestral Opening for Valpo's New Downtown Amphitheatre |
Thank you all for your presence and participation in contributing to life's beauty! Truly, Kassie Director |
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Practicing (life) principles
Enabling expansive growth
 | | Practicing well decade after decade requires creativity, discipline, experimentation, relaxation, balance, precision, and lots of play. |
While many of us might want a list of rules to follow - telling us exactly what to do when - no such list would be beneficial for everyone. Even those for whom it would be beneficial for a time would discover a point at which it would cease to be beneficial. For some, at some times, such a list would even prove counter-productive and potentially quite harmful. Besides, a list of rules would shortchange our most important aspects of growth, which are discussed in the principles below. These principles are both flexible and concrete, enabling you to work with them throughout your lifetime for continually increasing, beautifully expansive growth.
Read more... about these 9 principles that apply to all of life - the practice of living well:
- Maintain clarity. Differentiate between purpose and tools.
- Understand what practicing is - and what it is not.
- Explore. Experiment.
- Practicing is not about perfection. We practice in order to develop precision - not perfection.
- Balance and relaxation are the foundation.
- Cultivate discipline in your exploring and experimenting.
- When first forming the practice habit, keep track. This reinforces the commitment you've made and the consistency you're creating.
- Each day, begin again. It is impossible to "make up for" a missed day. The missed day is gone - so let it go.
- Develop compassionate, empowering self-reflection.
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Practicing :: different tools for different times
Reflections from 3 decades of violin practicing
 | | I'd already been playing for some time prior to this photo. My history with practicing is a long one :) |
Practicing. It's essential for growth in any area, throughout life. Yet all the variables of when and how, along with questions about specifically what, can make it confusing to begin.
In 3 decades of violin practicing, I have experienced the effectiveness of different approaches at different times.
Read more... including more about these concepts: - What is perfectly beneficial for a time might actually be counter-productive or even harmful at a different time.
- Observe, honor, and flow with the constantly changing seasons of life.
- Find your growth edge - an achievable yet slightly uncomfortable stretch that will expand your abilities and take you to a new level of possibilities.
- Celebrate!
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1 year club - 365 consecutive days of practice
10 minutes minimum each day won't cause burnout, and you'll get a really cool T-shirt :)
A parent of an NWISC student has generously offered to donate towards this. I promise that your well-earned shirt will be quality, with a cool design.
Most of all, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover what could happen during an entire year of daily practice.... You just might surprise yourself!
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Keep up the excellent practicing, everyone! Practicing itself is an infinitely creative process. Tap into the fun and delight of it! I am excited for all the celebrations, lessons, performances, and all kinds of fun we have coming up!
Truly, Kassie
Director
219.465.4040 |
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