Happy New Year - Stop Scrolling, Go Practice!

Hello Friends,

Just a quick note to wish you all a Happy New Year 2025!

My new mantra for music and practicing is, “Stop Scrolling, Go Practice!” I believe that while these digital things we keep in our pockets can be such a resource, they can also destroy human interaction and ‘old school’ productivity.

What do I mean by ‘old school’ productivity? Practicing! Think of how much practicing you would do if you substituted scrolling. Well, likely our lips would be bleeding and our right thumb would be crippled.

Think back to the days of H. Klose and C. Rose. What were the distractions to practice for them? Think to me growing up on clarinet in the 80s and as a professional in the 90s before the internet and any cell phone. What were my distractions? TV was the biggie.

So, have this goal, if you are not a professional, try to do this. Practice 15-minutes every day! Substitute 15 minutes of scrolling with 15 minutes of practice. Don’t use a phone app metronome or tuner are anything. Shut the phone OFF for 15 minutes.

For me, this 15 minutes is a joy and a challenge to find (a place to practice, time of day, fitting it in, not disturbing my family). But, the consistency is amazing. I don’t think my scales, arpeggios, thirds and some seven chords have sounded better.

I leave with a little bit of proof. I will only provide one link and that is my Happy New Year video link here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vgYPSwCSArU This is a short with a little history behind Auld Lang Syne with the background of the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse and me playing the trio in the soundtrack.

Then, if you would, sidestep to the other shorts on the @ClarinetNow YouTube channel and see my recent Clarinet Major Scales. You can also see these by visiting Clarinet-Now.com. Have fun! Stop Scrolling and Go Practice!


Best,

Chris Jones @clarinetnow

Check out my method book Bumblebee Loops.

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