Motivation for January Practice!

Happy January All! 

I've been away from the blog for a bit - as I've been so busy with my students and family, but I am finally back to my weekly posts! They motivate you…they motivate me…whats not to love?!

This week…be ready for your jaw to drop…

I'm not sure if you watch America's Got Talent…but this kid makes me want to start! WHAT a motivation to the rest of us out there! Stop looking at the clock while you practice…remember to allow your emotion to flow through into your playing…be PASSIONATE about the songs you choose to learn and play and share…watch and enjoy!

Thanks Adrian Romoff for your passion and dedication to your music! You're a role model for all of us looking to be the best we can be!

New Music for the New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I want to start this year with one of my VERY favorite piano songs...Once Upon a December composed by Stephen Flaherty.  It is gorgeous, complex, and emotional.  If you want a challenge, give this one a shot!

New Year New Lessons

Give me a shout asap to get your piano lessons scheduled for the new year! Spots are filling up and I'd love to add you to my list! 

Me: Ashley Walker / Piano at the Beach

email: ashleyerinw@gmail.com

phone: 803.370.1275

Hard Work Pays Off!

Check this out guys...just another example of how hard work pays off!  It doesn't matter how old you are - the important thing is how much work you put into it!

Just wow.

Pug Puppy Birthday Party!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALTER! 

As many of you know, I am the very proud and happy owner of a pug puppy named Walter!  He just turned 1 year old, so in his baby pug honor, a birthday party was thrown.  I have a whole blog post about it containing amazing things like pug puppy photos, a recipe for a puppy birthday cake, my mom's DELICIOUS chili recipe, and lots lots more! Did I mention pictures of a baby pug? You know you wanna see puppies ;).  Go check it out! AshleyErinWalker-PugParty

Its all about Inspiration!!

Some of my students over in Mt. Pleasant have recently refreshed my creative vibe! They are still in the early stages of learning to play and read on their own, so they are experiencing all the ups and downs, challenges and rewards of learning a new language.  Although learning to read music is challenging and sometimes frustrating, these students have found pieces of music that are inspiring them to work harder and faster than ever before!  One of them heard a complicated version of the Swan Lake theme,  and is absolutely determined to be able to master it on his own, while another student is fascinated with the original version of Fur Elise! Their newfound dedication to their lessons and their motivation to be able to read complicated pieces on their own has inspired me to no end!  It reminds me that, any time you reach a slump in your work, or you lose your motivation, you simply need to find what inspired you in the first place! Stay inspired! Stay creative! Stay determined! You can learn anything you want to, if your head and heart are in the right place.  <3 :)

Home again Home again!!!

Hey guys! I've missed you! As most of you know, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks with my family in Europe and have been traveling around like crazy! I saw amazing things I never thought I'd be able to see, and I was able to spend quality time with my family.  Here is a sneak peak (through my iPhone) into what I got to do and see while I was away!

The BigBen skyline! This was the only blue sky we saw during our week in London haha

Close up of Big Ben on a dreary, yet gorgeous London day

These bright yellow fields are all over England! This is what they use to make Canola Oil.  Who know it was so pretty!!!

Cardiff Castle in Wales

Florence, Italy was breathtaking

Me and the little brother at the Mediterranean!

The Queen's Garden in London

Me and Sam pigged out on Gelato the whole time we were in Italy!

Oh yeah....I ran through Platform 9 3/4....no big deal ;)

Italian window boxes made me want to plant flowers everywhere!

Mom and Sam in London

Italian street musicians were insanely amazing!

The Palace

Pizza in Italy makes me want to move there.

Poppies were growing all over Italy!

Stonehenge

Westminster

Amazing street artists in Florence!

I'm so glad I had the opportunity to spend this time with my family and see incredible things I never thought I'd be able to see! I'm ALSO tremendously glad to be home to my students, my fuzzy little kittens and puppy, and the Charleston summer sun :)

Summertime = Playtime!

Hi guys! Happy Monday! 

I just wanted to pop on and share a few thoughts on practicing in the summertime.

1. Take a mini break! You've worked HARD this year and you deserve some fun in the sun! Give yourself a whole week of no piano - all play :).

2. Don't forget to start back practicing at the end of your mini break ;)

3.  Don't make it hard or stressful! Summertime is supposed to be relaxing.  So don't force yourself to sit at the piano for 30 minutes if all your friends are outside playing! Practice for 15 minutes in the morning after you eat breakfast (you know when the neighbor kids are still sleeping), and then practice for 15 minutes at night after dinner or before bed! Even break your practicing up into 10 minute segments if thats easier!

4.  Set a timer.  This will make your life SO much easier because you won't be constantly hopping up to check the time.  The more you think about it...the slower it goes.  Just focus on your song and before you know it you'll be done for the day! 

5.  Work with your teacher to find music you love.  If you can't stand the songs your trying to learn, your practicing sessions will be SO much worse.  Pick songs you WANT to know how to play and songs that intrigue you! This doesn't mean pick easy songs by the way...pick something that challenges you and you'll be proud of yourself when you've mastered it in a few weeks :).