This month, I want to share with you a resource that's been on my mind for a while, and I've been workshopping it with my students today (thank you, Seamus and Thomas!). It's called: The Pre-Lesson Report (dun, dun, dunnnnnn). It's designed to: - Focus your practice - Help you progress by yourself - Help us use lesson time more efficiently It's a natural progression of the Practice Journal (see previous posts for info about that). Here's how it works: Before every lesson, for each piece, create a table. At the top of the table, next to the title, write your target speed. Make sure you include "crotchet equals" or "quaver equals" etc.--not just a random bpm! Now for the table itself. From left to right, the columns are: - Section (you can write specific bar numbers, line numbers, rehearsal markings, etc.) - Hands separately/hands together - Safe speed (the speed at which you'll be able to play this section perfectly with a metronome in the lesson. Make sure you include "crotchet equals" or "quaver equals" etc.--not just a random bpm!) - Notes (any specific questions about the section, or any additional details) Then, under each piece, write 1-3 questions. Each question must start with "How do I...". Here's an online template so you can see how it works: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OAXYmEU-T4K5IqRsTxk-iNiYgVwPAwoWs4KfoiIhDyk/edit?usp=sharing Repeat this for every piece you want to look at in the lesson. If you're not sure what you want to look at in the lesson, do it for all your pieces! Your challenge is this: for every lesson this month, submit your Pre-Lesson Report the day before or on the day of your lesson. This will be much easier if you keep a robust practice journal! If you don't manage to do it sometimes, don't worry; we may do it together at the beginning of your lesson as an exercise to improve your practice skills.