How do we maintain our practice regime during the pandemic?

I had been doing the following things on a regular basis.

1. Worked with Piano coaches with whom I met monthly for both classical and jazz piano pedagogy studies.
2. Worked with a Drum coach I saw weekly.
3. Consumed music podcasts about coaching, customer service, marketing, and music pedagogy.
4. Participated in numerous online groups involved in professional music and pedagogy.
5. Practiced piano and drums daily. I usually rested on Sunday.
6. From time to time I played in a professional setting.
7. I attended live music events most weeks.

I did the following things on a yearly basis:

1. Attended summer music workshops around the world: USA, Canada, Italy, and Poland
2. Took music and cultural holidays around the world. Last trip over New Years was to New York City.

How did I practice in my studio?

1. I had an overall goal in both the piano and drums. These were lifetime goals.
2. I had yearly goals which were posted in the studios.
3. My studio space was well organized, it was easy to get started.
4. I followed the direction of my coaches/mentors/teachers.
5. I worked on the following areas:
   1. Technique
   2. Etudes
   3. Sight reading
   4. Repertoire
   5. Ear training and Transcriptions
   6. Score study
   7. Metronome work
   8. Theory
   9. Student work
6. I journaled my progress in various ways.

 
Now what? No jamming for the next few months or even longer. No face to face, mano a mano interactions of any sort.
 
A few assumptions before proceeding.

1. This will pass.
2. I want to be here when it does.
3. Music making will resume in some form or another, though there will be some changes in how our cohort goes about it. Some bands may never start up again.

The plan is simple

1. Stay healthy, follow the suggestions of legitimate authority. Eat, sleep, and exercise like a champion. Be here and be available when all this passes.
2. Keep the business going. Financial stability has never been more important.
3. Enjoy this extra time with my spouse, an unexpected gift.
4. Practice diligently, research, and network, so I will be a stronger musician when this event passes. So, I will work on the following:
   1. Classical piano, going deep on student repertoire, get back in shape. My goal is musicians' hands not teachers' hands.
   2. Jazz piano, exploring both the bebop and post-bop idioms. Second build up my collection of standards and original work. Finally master the art of spontaneous modulations. 
   3. Create electro-acoustic work with my friends online.

​Best,

David Story