Introducing Motor Rhythms

I’m doing it for myself.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself about this little side quest writing project. Lately, I’ve wanted to publicly write about my experiences as an athlete and a musician, because I’ve found that my lifelong experiences as a musician have informed my more recent adventures in endurance athletics and functional fitness. It turns out that my newfound love for sport has a lot to teach me about being a better musician.

Thus this little writing project: Motor Rhythms. What is a Motor Rhythm?

Motor Rhythm is a 20th century term used to describe music with an insistent, propulsive rhythmic drive. Bach made great use of it throughout his musical career, and Gershwin said Rhapsody in Blue was inspired by the sound of the subway on the train tracks. And yes, late 90s house was built on motor rhythms. It’s my favorite kind of rhythmic device, and it is the soundtrack to all of my endurance training and competitions.

Motor Rhythms will be a place where I live journal about my training for competitions and practice for concerts. I will be competing in an Olympic length triathlon on April 26, and I will have a run of concerts as a collaborative pianist throughout May. I will share what my training routines will be throughout the spring.

Motor Rhythms will be a place where I reflect on what music and sport can teach each other. Both require disciplined practice, sacrifice, patience, resilience, and creativity. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to choose one or the other; it’s possible to passionately pursue an interest in both.

I hope that someone out there finds this blog and gets some kind of inspiration from it. But even if not, I’m writing this blog for myself, to better understand my love for music and competition.

Summer Sabbatical Practice Tips

Starting today, the Studio is on a 6 week sabbatical, and I hope we all take this opportunity to rest and enjoy our summers. Here are three tips for your summer sabbatical practice.

1. Maintenance, Not Progress: Your main goal for these 6 weeks away from piano lessons is to maintain the skills you’ve developed in the last year. To do that, focus on technique - scales, cadences, arpeggios - and enjoyable repertoire. It can be beneficial to re-learn older pieces with newer skills and sharpened ears. You can also work ahead in your books, or find new songs that utilize the skills you’ve learned, but if you grow frustrated with more advanced skills, step back to hone the skills you know.



2. Make a practice rhythm: 4-5 days a week, 30 minutes a day is most ideal (5-15 minutes for beginners, 45-60 minutes for advanced students). Write it in your planner and keep that time sacred. It’s your practice time for your musical investment.



3. Rest is good: With summer travel, summer camps, summer adventure, summer heat (see a pattern?), you're prone to fall off the practice wagon at some point. That’s normal and okay. In fact, an extended rest period - as in, 2-4 weeks - can be beneficial to your overall musical development. Professional athletes require off seasons to maintain a healthy and functional body; professional musicians operate the same way.



If you follow these tips, then you’ll keep your skills sharp so that you’ll be ready to dive into new repertoire and technique.