WORKSHOP
“Making the undoable doable: the core of expert practice” - Micah Killion
Baylor University Trumpet Studio (Wiff Rudd, Mark Schubert, Brent Phillips)
How do experts change passages of music that are undoable into passages that can be performed beautifully and reliably?
THIS HOUR-LONG WORKSHOP EXPLORES:
The mechanisms in the brain responsible for refining movements that make music
Examples of experts practicing that show how experts use these mechanisms to optimize learning in the practice room
Actionable ways to practice more effectively by thinking the way that experts think
Micah Killion is an assistant instructor in Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin. His research on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underpinning skill development can be applied to optimize individual music practice at all skill levels. On the topic of expert practice, Micah has presented workshops at The Colburn School, Baylor University, New York University, University of Connecticut, Stetson University, Northern Illinois University, University of Texas, University of Oregon, Texas State University, and the 2023 International Trumpet Guild Conference.
TESTIMONIALS
“I was recently in attendance for Micah Killion's lecture on expert practice at the Austin Trumpet Camp in July of 2022. I was so excited about his great message that I suggested to my colleagues at Texas State University that we have him come to our Brass seminar and deliver it. In September of 2022, he gave his talk at TSU to almost 100 Brass students and faculty.
Micah presents this valuable information in an intelligent way and yet does not speak over the heads of the audience whether it be at a college or high school level. His manner is very entertaining and engaging.
Some of the students said afterwards that it was one of the best if not THE best of master classes that we have had. I especially was struck by the videos of practice sessions done by professional players and what could be learned and observed from them.
I would highly recommend these lectures to any musician wishing to improve on concepts of practicing, learning and improvement.”
- Dr. Robert Cannon: Texas State University
Big thanks to Dr. Martin McCain , Dr. Bob Cannon, Dr. Keith Winking, Dr. Andy Cheetham, and the rest of the brass faculty at Texas State University for having me out to talk with students about the brain and expert practice. Here I am showing what Chris Coletti is up to that makes him so very good at the trumpet!
“We had good fortune to welcome Micah to our saxophone studio class recently, during which he opened our eyes and ears to the intricacies of expert practice. Our in-depth discussion, coupled with the examination of practice sessions from peak performers, helped us zoom in on what we can be doing in our own daily routines to support our work, and enable our success. Micah shares his expertise in a way that is engaging and accessible to students of all levels and interests, drawing upon his own incredibly varied and successful career, while allowing us to also meet and observe many other great artists through the collected video examples.
For anyone who has ever felt like the progress they made in the practice room disappeared overnight, or that they just don’t progress as quickly, or have as much consistency as they would like, this presentation is for you. We all walked away a little more confident about how to more healthily approach our work, and how to ensure better results.”
- Dr. Stephen Page: University of Texas at Austin
It's no secret that Dr. Stephen Page is a virtuoso performer (and an A+ human). But in this UT sax studio class, we look at the expert ways he optimizes his practice to afford such virtuosity! I'm so jealous of the sax students at The University of Texas at Austin.