Ida Kavafian: Habits That Separate Good Musicians from Great Ones

We’ve all heard the phrase “practice smarter, not harder” but what does that actually mean? What actually separates good from great? In this video, violinist Ida Kavafian shares valuable insights and details on effective practice and performance, like what sorts of markings she puts in her music, why we need a plan on stage, what she would do if she only had 20 minutes to practice, and her signature practice hack - a clever technique for playing fifths in tune. TIMESTAMPS 1:52 - The lengths Ida used to go to, to avoid practicing as a child 7:02 - One of the most important things we must do in the practice room - an enduring lesson learned from Mischa Mischakoff 8:28 - What sorts of markings does Ida put in her music? 9:41 - Why Ida believes the bow arm is where the art of music-making lies 11:21 - The cardinal sin of “accidental phrasing” 13:32 - The essential etudes for developing awesome bow control 15:06 - The often-overlooked practice activity for string players that is “really, really valuable” (pianists have their own version of this too) 18:45 - Who should we listen to, for examples of violinists with great sound? 20:34 - Ida’s goal as a teacher, and the moment in studio class where she saw she had accomplished her goal 23:46 - Why Ida doesn’t let students change bowings (at least at first) 28:05 - Why Ida is “obsessed” with fingerings - and what makes a good fingering in the first place? (plus, an example from the Kreutzer sonata) 32:30 - What Ida thinks about on stage while performing - and why this can help with nerves and anxiety 37:58 - Why we should have hobbies (plus, some of the things Ida has learned from her very serious hobby away from music) 42:24 - Why we should have musical goals, but be cautious of career goals (starts with an unintentional metaphor) 46:29 - Ida’s signature technique hack, for playing fifths in tune! 47:55 - Another bonus left-hand hack for better intonation, sound, and less tension! 49:28 - What would Ida do if she could only practice for 20 minutes? 51:12 - Does Ida spend much time planning practice sessions? Access complete show notes, including transcript and additional resources at: https://bulletproofmusician.com/ida-k... IDA KAVAFIAN https://www.curtis.edu/person/ida-kav... NOA KAGEYAMA Performance psychologist Noa Kageyama is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and the Cleveland Institute of Music. A conservatory-trained violinist with degrees from Oberlin and Juilliard before pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology at Indiana University, he now specializes in teaching performing artists how to utilize sport psychology principles and more consistently perform up to their full abilities under pressure. Noa's work has appeared in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NBC News, CNN, Slate, WNYC radio, Strings Magazine, Musical America, and Lifehacker. WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Get a new research-based practice tip to experiment with every Sunday: https://bulletproofmusician.com/subsc... FREE 7-DAY PRACTICE COURSE Learn the #1 thing top practicers do differently, and five research-based strategies that will help you improve faster and become more "pressure proof" on stage: https://bulletproofmusician.com/press... THE BULLETPROOF MUSICIAN Blog: https://bulletproofmusician.com/blog DISCLAIMER All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for therapy or personalized advice from a qualified professional. If something here raises concerns for you, please consider speaking with a licensed healthcare provider who can provide guidance specific to your individual situation.