Johnston and Lear Online Music Lessons 

Monday, March 9, 2020 by Gary Johnston | 21-Day Challenge

We made it! The 21-day Challenge has ended and I hope you discovered a lot more about your instrument and yourself.

You may also have developed some new practice habits along the way that will stay with you a long while.

Personally, I found new ways to approach my practice sessions. I discovered the quickest ways to build speed and accuracy. By practicing sight reading I discovered new music I had not seen before and have added it to my repertoire.

You will find a new sense of confidence once you have greater command of your instrument that will grow with continued practice.

Playing your instrument now becomes a thing of great joy and every time you approach a practice/play session you will do so with excitement.

Thank you for participating and I hope you will continue to practice and grow.

Remember they don't call it PLAY for nothing.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 by Gary Johnston | 21-Day Challenge

Welcome to Day 17 of the 21-Day Challenge!

Today I want you to put away your books and just pick up an instrument or sit at a keyboard or a drum kit, even an instrument you've never played before, and EXPLORE.

Blow into a recorder, a trombone, a sax or trumpet. Play a hand drum, shakers, a tambourine. Blow a kazoo. Pluck a banjo. Find a drum or keyboard app on your phone and play at work or on the bus.

Explore the ranges of the instrument. Tinkle the high keys, pound on the low ones. Bend a string. Rap on the sides of a drum or ukulele. Stop and listen to extraneous street noise and play along with passing traffic. Whistle back to the birds, scream back at the crows. Wear a different shoe on each foot and clump around the house.

Above all else, LISTEN. ENGAGE.

Monday, March 2, 2020 by Gary Johnston | 21-Day Challenge

Got just 10 minutes to practice? Try this.

#1 - Warm-up - 1 minute

#2 - Intention - focused work - 7 minutes

#3 - Free creativity - 2 minutes

End on a high note!