Freelance Cellist and Teacher
Jennie Khan is an Auckland based cellist and cello teacher. She has a variety of experience performing both here and in Europe and has been teaching students of all ages for many years.
Over the summer break I worked out a good routine and schedule for my practice, so now it's easier to drop back into it as time allows.
There are lots of tips and tricks online about effective practicing, but here I describe what a my practice sessions actually look like - the nuts and bolts if you will - sometimes I find it helps to see what those ideas look like in a practical sense, to then adapt it to your own practice.
Read MoreThis summer I had a few gigs, in itself nothing extraordinary. But I've been doing so much orchestral playing, that I forgot how much I dig playing in smaller groups. If there is a great spark between the musicians, it will set up a vibe for the event that everyone will love.
Read MoreThis last month I've had the good fortune to be able to satiate my appetite for the works of Shostakovitch. This past weekend, German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser and the NZSO performed a phenomenal rendition of Shostakovitch Cello Concerto No. 1.
Read MoreEven the most innovative of artists has influencers, those that have gone before that have been an inspiration. As musicians, when we interpret a piece of music, we must draw on our own experiences to find our inspiration.
I find it really interesting to know what music people choose to listen to and I wanted to share some of my music choices, turns out it's a very eclectic range.
A new year has begun, and I find it's a good time to reflect on how everything has been going, things that worked, things that didn't. I feel that this year, things have started to turn a corner in terms of work, but the big thing which I struggled with most this year was my brain. Mental health issues can be a big barrier to success, an obstacle on the journey. But with the right support and techniques there can be ways through, implementing those is top of the list for 2018.
Read MoreFor some, the metronome is the bane of their existence, something to be groaned at. But not me, for me it's one of the most useful tools I have for a good practice session. These are my top 5 creative uses to get the best out of that little ticking box.
Read MoreMost of us know music is an artistic, emotional and often spiritual expression of ourselves. Listening to music can get us excited, cheer us up, it can equally be relaxing and conciliatory.
Playing music can be a reprieve from the daily grind but we can put enormous pressure on ourselves, and this can result in a lot of tensions and anxiety relating to our music.
There has been a lot of publicity about 'Mindfulness' in recent times, I find the idea of focus in the moment and non-judgmental awareness fits in very well in music practice.
New years resolutions that get made in the relaxed and festive 'bubble' of the holiday season, inevitably get forgotten, once the all the parties are over and the reality of life returns.
The antidote might be to make an actual plan - something to work towards and a way to get there. And what better than a plan for practice?
I had the great fortune these last school holidays of assisting in taking a local youth orchestra on a tour to France. The trip surpassed many of my expectations and I found the reaction of both the young musicians and our audiences inspiring.
Music traverses cultural and linguistic barriers. It was fantastic seeing these kids really getting involved and how much they just love music...
Keeping motivated is important for all musicians. Practicing, performing and playing in general can all present us with challenges to a degree that we start to have doubts. If you isolate the problem then there are ways to overcome it....
Read MoreThe foundations of the intonation that we hear is somewhat intuitive, it depends a lot on one's musical exposure. Listening to most western music, be it popular or classical, these combinations of sounds, intervals and chords will sound 'right' to your ear. If however you listen to a lot of jazz or world music your ear will likely be more attuned to different types of harmonies.
Read MoreThe intention of this blog is to share my experiences, ideas and advice to help you to become a better musician. To share techniques and philosophies on how you can improve your playing both physically and mentally.
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