One of the most effective ways of working on musicality, alignment of body and mind is to SING! This works on students of all ages, even for myself (even though I can’t sing well). But I’ve found it of utmost importance to be able to hear your voice and mind clearly, so that it brings clarity to the instrument or music when you’re playing.
The most direct translation of what and how we think is through our voice, and it is crucial for students to understand this connection between their mind, voice and instrument.
Picking the right repertoire for students is crucial too, and in the case of chamber music; learning how to flow and align with one another can done best through singing!
Siblings tend to fight and I love for any of our students to be able to make music with one another. It’s a long and difficult process because it’s not so much about the playing, but more about working through differences, enjoying the process, witnessing and experiencing the changes through music, together.
In the example above, I’ve seen these two girls grow up since Charis was 4, and Claire tagging along as a toddler back then :’) . Charis is turning 10 next year, and Claire, 7. It doesn’t matter if their level of playing is different, the key is to choose the right piece of music that they will enjoy, be challenged, overcome all obstacles and HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
Singing or playing chamber music builds confidence, inculcate a deeper understanding of alignment in all aspects, dig deep into the workings of the mind and more importantly, it’s fun when family members can make music with one another! This is something that they will hold close to their hearts for a long time to come when they become adults. That’s the unifying power of music that I absolutely love and hope for our community and students to experience; the fun of chamber music making and just enjoying music for music’s sake <3