The new piano curriculum we're using at SEU organizes each class meeting as a meditation or a liturgy or a practice - choose your favorite word. The meditation follows a basic outline:
preparation
encounter
reflection
I've started using this as a way to organize the diverse things that happen in our worship services at Church in the Meadows. I'm also using the ordering to understand my own journey through days and weeks.
It's a very helpful way of analyzing one's musical life, as well. For example, consider what the event is you are to be playing. That's the encounter. Now, what preparation is appropriate for that encounter. What type of practicing do you need to do? What sort of physical arrangements need to be made: transportation of an instrument? best location of instrument? (Harpsichord needs to be close to the conductor. I'm learning!)
Then, when it's all over, reflection is very important, but easily neglected. You need time following the event to reflect, journal, and maybe to communicate with others about its aspects. I often fail to plan time for that follow-through.
Now, I must go do some follow-through. Then, some more preparation.
