The session with Wieke Karsten about effective practice was really interesting and useful. She shared with us her extended knowledge about how the brain works when we are practising using the six circles of attention described by Eberspächer. Wieke exposed how to detect the moments when our students are out of circles one or two which are the main circles of attention. She explained us some recommendations for how to get the students back to concentrated and focused on circles one and two: to take three seconds before starting again; to make a gesture like smile in order to relax them or to take some notes for remembering the lesson when they practise at home. (Sofia Martinez.)
Liisa Ruoho, who is an offical Andover Body Mapping teacher, was able to give us insights in the principles of body mapping in only 40 minutes. By letting us rediscover our arms and hands we all instantly experienced a difference in the agility and sensibility of our body. Diving into body mapping will be an extremely interesting and useful addition to teaching instrumental classes. (Karst de Jong.)
Wieke is fantastic, and in her beautiful lecture she has menage to inspire us listeners to try to find in us, and in our students this special peaceful feeling that we love on the stage.
Thank you Wieke……….
Wieke started her presentation today with expressing her strong fascination with ‘practising’. And than she shared her journey of exploration and the helpful aid of reading some popularised brain research. and het practical findings what this might mean for students. What I like is that her story is growing en deepening every time I see and hear it. In the Royal Conservatoire she is one of the teachers of a growing community of research that step by step deepens the knowledge. Wiekes story is one of the strong driving forces in this process. Communicatiev, practical, funny, informative, relevant.
I admire Wieke’s passionate and personal involvement in guiding students’ practicing. By viewing the matter of practicing from the brain activity perspective she offered a natural, non-offensive, and adjustable practice of evaluating and developing personal practicing. Additional to this, Peer working may enable and increase entering to the first circle. Colleagues should share Wieke’s lessons and teachers could by presenting their own practicing in front of each other and students stimulate reflections and provide models of good (sometimes questionable) practices of practicing. From the pedagogical perspective, I keep on thinking about the 3 months learning rule, because the amount and the quality of learning styles and stimulus will certainly have a great effect on all circles of attention in the process practicing.
Today was marvelous. Day was started with Anto’s class of improvisation. I read about him and listen his improvisation. It was so exited and inspired to work with him and to learn first steps about improvisation. Second highlight of the seminar were Wieke and of course Lisa. I learned for 45 min more about my body a the ways to use. Thank You all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bojan
BRAVO WIEKE, I FELT GREAT ON YOUR LECTURE, AND I LIKET THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SAYING…….
THANK YOU AGAIN
Wieke gave us great informations about things sometimes teachers forget to even think of.Brain activities during and before playing.So helpful for our students to take real attitude toward proper practising and performance. She did yesterday the lesson with me, and showed me some things that immediately worked on.
After all, the awareness of our body provides, as an outcome, provides the best sound and interpretation. It is senseless how we try to work against the gravity while striving for excellence and inspiration in our musical expression on an instrument. However, we need the senses and sense making in the process of attaining the appropriate technique for gaining gravity-feelings in our playing.
Liisa Ruoho,thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are an extraordinary woman. You introduce something completely new for me and help me solve my condition problem. You blow my mind. Thank you! As a musicians we should be more familiar with our body which is an instrument for making music.
The lecture of Liisa Ruoho was very clear. It inspires me to re-think certain body issues. Especially it stimultates me to be more specific with my students about how they “see” their body or parts of it.
Wieke’s lecture was very enlightening. She has in her own personal way disclosed the woking of the brain and uses this in very clear language, images and body-langue in her lecture and in her work with students.
A very important word for me to realise is the word SENSE. When we use our senses we can do it in a relaxed, but attentive way. In that case we just are present and aware. When we start focussing, concentrating, thinking, we become selfconcious and stiff. In our work with students it is not always easy to find the right words or approach. The word SENSE will certainly help me with this!