Thread by @violincase

Day 100
#100daysofpractice
🎉

Next rep: Brahms Double in Paris. Getting back in touch with the beauty of every note before I get on my plane departing Salt Lake City.

This is the end of this round of #100daysofpractice. I started this hashtag and project several years ago. Now there are nearly 750k posts of all of you/us sharing your practice experiences!! I really appreciate this practice community.

My previous 100-day seasons have led me to discoveries about my technique, breakthroughs in practice mentality, and new patterns of working. Each one has brought me something distinctive, something I couldn’t have predicted.

This time, I set out to do a low-key 100 days. This project was never meant as a challenge. It’s a glimpse behind the scenes, a sharing of work in progress, or an unlocking of a door that would might otherwise be bolted shut.

On January 1 this year, I felt like the best way to approach this season was to focus on the gentle reality of what’s possible each day. Truly possible: natural, not aspirational. Including days off.

Music is a lifelong pursuit and we need to allow ourselves the grace to say, Today’s not the day. Even a break from practice counts towards practice if properly acknowledged. And the desire to practice is equally valuable! Desire and rest are interconnected.

This time, I’m finishing the season with more ease around the give and take of life in balance with practice - and more inclination to fold calm practice into my daily work. Reading your comments about prioritizing self care has been heartwarming and important.

Part of maturing as a practicer is internalizing that big-picture perspective. I hope you continue to take care of yourselves as you continue your practice journeys, or creative journeys, or music loving journeys.

To those of you who are concluding your 100 day arc today: congratulations! For those of you still counting, good luck! For ongoing daily practice content, check out your fellow practicers posting under #100daysofpractice, and check in here for intermittent practice drop-ins.

Thank you for joining me! ❤️