Learn To Read Music!

For those of you who are already working professionally you know that reading music comes into play. Even when you are hired as a “dancer” and that is the majority of what you are doing within a given production, there are times when a piece of sheet music comes across your dance bag.

Today’s note is LEARN TO READ MUSIC! Reading music is a skill that every artist needs. For those of you who choreograph dance, the ability to read music is of great importance. Most composers do not know how to count the way dancers count. Their music is written in 4/4 for example and you are counting in 8’s. It will be your job to communicate in musical terms rather than in dance terms. Or, maybe you are appearing in a holiday show and need to learn a chorus and verse of a song for the finally. It’s a bit embarrassing to be a pro at dancing and have no clue about music. This tool will serve you well.

If you learn to read music you will gain confidence in the rehearsal studio, broaden your skill set and have the ability to grow as a well rounded performer.

Learn to Read Music!

Be Early!

We dancers admit to being late for most things. There is a perfectionist pesty friend inside of us who likes to tag along most days. This causes us to spend too much time on tasks that need to be completed faster. Thus, we are late. Late for class, late for rehearsal, even late leaving the dressing room at the end of the night.

Today's note is BE EARLY! Give yourself enough time each day to show up for dance at least 15 minutes before you need to be there. That gives you 5 minutes to get settled, adjust your dancewear, go to the restroom-5 minutes to roll down and give yourself a body check to see "where you are" and 5 minutes to JUST BE EARLY.

If you create a consistent habit of being early you will always feel that much more prepared and your friends and colleagues will gain respect for you when they see that you are always there when they walk in the door.

BE EARLY!