Are you feeling the pressure of holiday burnout? This time of year can be especially stressful for musicians. Teaching lessons, planning holiday recitals, performing in holiday gigs, and preparing for the holiday itself--it is no wonder that many of us go into the holiday season feeling more frazzled than festive!
However, self-care is especially important during the holidays. Today, I am sharing 5 ways you can both relax and recharge your studio for the coming year!
Keep reading for more....
However, self-care is especially important during the holidays. Today, I am sharing 5 ways you can both relax and recharge your studio for the coming year!
Keep reading for more....
1. Play a piece for your own enjoyment.
Between holiday recitals and Christmas gigs this season, how often did you take the time to sit down at the piano and play something just for you?
Make time this season to reconnect with the piano and play a favorite piece--or perhaps even try something new that you have always wanted to play! Even a few minutes of "me time" at the piano can make a big difference.
2. Catch up on your favorite piano teaching blogs or podcasts to get fresh ideas for the new year.
If you have a little holiday downtime coming up, this could be the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of your favorite piano teaching blogs and podcasts--or perhaps to discover some new ones!
Here are a few blogs and podcasts that I have enjoyed--feel free to drop a comment below and share your favorites that you would add to this list!
Blogs
Podcasts
3. Sight-read three new pieces you would like to teach next year.
If you are like me, you probably have a studio library full of music that is just waiting to be paired with the right student. Take an hour to go through some of your unused sheet music and sight-read three pieces that you would like to teach in the new year, and get ready to put some of that sheet music to use!
I know that preparing to teach something brand-new always makes me feel energized and productive. And as a bonus, you'll be cleaning out your files and making good use of some teaching pieces you may have forgotten about.
4. Clean and organize your studio to give you a fresh start to the year.
Does your studio look less than tidy after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? (I know mine does!) Take a few hours to clean out and organize your studio before the new semester begins--you will go into the new year feeling much more prepared!
Here are a few tasks you might add to your to-do list:
5. Do a favorite activity that is non-music related that will help you relax and recharge.
Take a long walk, drop in on a yoga class, bake your favorite holiday treat, or read a novel by a favorite author. Sometimes doing something non-musical can really feed your soul and prepare you to return to teaching with a fresh perspective.
What do you think? How will you be relaxing and recharging this holiday season? I would love to hear your plans in the comments!
Wishing each and every one of you a very happy holiday season! I look forward to "seeing" you here on the blog in 2024!
Chrissy Ricker
Between holiday recitals and Christmas gigs this season, how often did you take the time to sit down at the piano and play something just for you?
Make time this season to reconnect with the piano and play a favorite piece--or perhaps even try something new that you have always wanted to play! Even a few minutes of "me time" at the piano can make a big difference.
2. Catch up on your favorite piano teaching blogs or podcasts to get fresh ideas for the new year.
If you have a little holiday downtime coming up, this could be the perfect opportunity to catch up on some of your favorite piano teaching blogs and podcasts--or perhaps to discover some new ones!
Here are a few blogs and podcasts that I have enjoyed--feel free to drop a comment below and share your favorites that you would add to this list!
Blogs
- Color in My Piano (Joy Morin)
- Colourful Keys (Nicola Cantan)
- Improv Tips Blog (Bradley Sowash)
- Music Educator Resources (Jennifer Foxx)
Podcasts
- Key Ideas Podcast (Leila Viss)
- Piano Parent Podcast (Shelly Davis)
- Piano Pantry Podcast (Amy Chaplin)
- All Keyed Up Podcast (Ben Kapilow)
3. Sight-read three new pieces you would like to teach next year.
If you are like me, you probably have a studio library full of music that is just waiting to be paired with the right student. Take an hour to go through some of your unused sheet music and sight-read three pieces that you would like to teach in the new year, and get ready to put some of that sheet music to use!
I know that preparing to teach something brand-new always makes me feel energized and productive. And as a bonus, you'll be cleaning out your files and making good use of some teaching pieces you may have forgotten about.
4. Clean and organize your studio to give you a fresh start to the year.
Does your studio look less than tidy after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? (I know mine does!) Take a few hours to clean out and organize your studio before the new semester begins--you will go into the new year feeling much more prepared!
Here are a few tasks you might add to your to-do list:
- Throw away papers from last semester that you will no longer need.
- Organize and file away Christmas sheet music, worksheets, and games so they are ready to go next year.
- Clean out old sheet music and consider donating or selling books that you no longer need. Or, put those books in a "freebie" box that your students can pick from next year!
- Dust the piano and wipe down the piano keys. (Is it just me, or is this a task that never gets done often enough?)
- Organize all of the sheet music, games, and teaching tools you plan to use at the start of the year so they are in one place.
- Start a list of any new music or teaching resources that you will need shop for before the new semester starts.
5. Do a favorite activity that is non-music related that will help you relax and recharge.
Take a long walk, drop in on a yoga class, bake your favorite holiday treat, or read a novel by a favorite author. Sometimes doing something non-musical can really feed your soul and prepare you to return to teaching with a fresh perspective.
What do you think? How will you be relaxing and recharging this holiday season? I would love to hear your plans in the comments!
Wishing each and every one of you a very happy holiday season! I look forward to "seeing" you here on the blog in 2024!
Chrissy Ricker
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