Lockdownish, premature start to my gap year, summer holidays

These are all the things which have made my ‘routine’ not such a routine.

Last Wednesday 5/8/20.  

Woke up around 7:30.  Breakfast at 8.

Started reading ‘Musicology The Key Concepts’ – David Beard and Kenneth Gloag.  

I spent some time helping my family at breakfast and playing with my siblings.  

I started harp practice at 9:15.  I use the Pomodoro method to practice.  I tried it with my A level studies from last September.  I would start the timer when I was making notes or doing homework.  This helped me manage my time better, as I had to make a plan before I actually started studying (basically I was forced to be organised, finally).  I use the app https://www.focustodo.cn/.  I got a new phone recently, so I bought the premium version so it would sync.  Email me for the group code if you’d like to join my study group on it – then we can compete.  

To start harp practice I do a warm up routine – not for fingers but the rest of my body – so neck, legs, arms and just general posture stretched.  Then I start either sightreading a piece to warm up the brain and fingers together, or I play my technical studies (scales, arpeggios, Dominant and Diminished 7ths).  

Tracking my practice time helps me focus more for a period of time, I get distracted really easily so 25 minutes is enough for me 😴.  

After practice for about an hour – with a 5 min break (usually consisting of me waiting for my coffee to cool down and not actually drinking it) 

I watched TV until lunchtime.  I am interested in finance, so I try to read what’s going on in their world and apply it to my life – spotting trends and all that jazz.  

I went out to see my friend who also plays the harp and we ate some lunch and talked about life and harpy stuff.  I’m not a very chatty person, but I do obviously enjoy talking to fellow humans.  During the lockdown, I sometimes speak to my friends via video call, but this week and last week I was on a harp course so I was very busy for the whole day.  

When I came home I was very tired from talking to my friend – socialising needs lots of energy to have a meaningful conversation so I just hung around my family – in my household OF COURSE!  Oh and also had dinner.

In the evening I tend to be more productive – during my time at school, this was when I’d do my homework because I’m kind of a procrastinator and last-minute kind of person 😆.  For the past month, I’ve been attending a makeup master class on a Wednesday evening.  It was about eye shadows and I found it really useful and hopefully I will be wearing some of the looks in the future!  The reason why I’m attending the master class as I’m not very confident with makeup and I would like to wear it more in musical situations – to be more dramatic and glamorous (who doesn’t!!).  

I went to bed at 11.  I feel like I fall asleep really fast, but during the heatwaves, I find it a lot harder so I try and get ready earlier.