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Get ready to Find your SPARK
The SPARK Practice Intentional Practice System is the proven practice support you need to reach your goals.
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I wanted to circle back and say THANK YOU AGAIN.
It’s truly been a transformative experience for me and I’ve emerged having gained more confidence, insight and joy for making music.
ARI, Grad Student, USA
START HERE
SPARK Practice & AVS
Welcome from Sarah Niblack
Boost progress and have more fun in the practice room with the right tools to support what you're working towards - with clear direction so you actually want to practice!
GAIN MOMENTUM
Two Essential Months
to Boost Your Practice
Achieve consistent and confident success with SPARK Practice's proprietary, neuroscience-driven Intentional Practice System.
8 weeks of practicing with SPARK Practice - each week covers a different pillar of TAPS (technique, artistry, presence, and support), and each week has a SPARK Practice Plan for students to try (5 strategies - one for each of the elements of music - Sound, Performance, Attuned Intonation, Rhythm, and Kinetic Integration).
Jump in below for the weekly videos and playbook worksheets - then share your progress in The Practice Room!
Support / Who's on Your Team?
Downloads & Resources
ADD TO YOUR TOOLBOX
Ready to go further?
SPARK Practice Plan
SOUND /
Who are your Sound Heroes - who shapes & inspires your sound?
Add your sound heroes, favourite recordings, teachers, other instruments, or listening rituals that guide your tonal imagination. Practice invitation / pretend you're the person or recording that reminds you of the sound world you want to build.
SOUND /
Who are your Sound Heroes - who shapes & inspires your sound?
Add your sound heroes, favourite recordings, teachers, other instruments, or listening rituals that guide your tonal imagination. Practice invitation / pretend you're the person or recording that reminds you of the sound world you want to build.
PERFORMANCE /
Who helps you feel Prepared, Grounded, Encouraged, & Confident?
Who or what helps you return to a more neutral, grounded state before playing for others? breathing or meditation resources, nervous-system practices, therapists, friends, or teachers who help you move from Practice Brain into Performance Brain.
ATTUNED INTONATION /
Who influences your ear, tuning, and harmonic awareness?
Add technical aids such as tuners, tuning recordings, drones, or musicians whose intonation and harmonic storytelling inspire you. What's one section that is tricky intonation(naly) or harmonically - and think about how your hero would practice it.
RHYTHM /
Who helped you find your groove, understand rhythm, phrasing & structure?
List tools like metronomes, dance music, teachers, or routines that help you feel and create pulse, understand form, and express phrasing. How can you bring this into your practice to make every element more immediate and alive?
KINESTHETICS /
Who or what helps you support your mental, physical, and playing health?
Add people, places, movement practices, tools, or routines that help you integrate physical movement and mindset into a cohesive choreography for the stage. This is often represented with the most boring habits - but that build big skills over the long run.
Technique / Non-Negotiables
Technique / Practice Room Non-Negotiables
Your expert SPARK Practice Plan
SOUND /
Sing & Play by Phrase
Sing phrases or sections first, then play to understand intention/voice and explore how each phrase feels before playing your instrument.
PERFORMANCE /
3 Mood Words
Write three evocative mood words at the top of your music to anchor emotional intent.
ATTUNED INTONATION /
The Scaleton ☠️
Record phrase/patch, play tonic/dominant/subdominant all over instrument, then re-record phrase.
RHYTHM /
Subdivision Ninja
Use the smallest common rhythmic value while retaining written note lengths.
KINESTHETICS /
Dynamic Dance Party
Use recording/singing and whole-body movement to embody dynamics and articulations.
The brain is the most important instrument you will ever play.
Don't forget to make sure it's also in tune.
SARAH NIBLACK, THE PRACTICE PROFESSOR
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Find some answers or ask your own question
Nope. Everything is musician-friendly, explained step by step.
There are some exercises that have modifications for different levels of difficulty, like yoga poses or weightlifting.
SPARK Practice is here to support you as much (or as little) as you need - and while there are some variants in instrument-specificity, many of the principles of learning, strategic training, and mental preparation are similar for everyone - regardless of playing level or experience.
Please SIGN IN and try again.
Also, if you're not yet a Practice Room member, the links won't be activated. Please join The Practice Room and participate in all the events!
Nope. Audition Club is a community project started by Sarah Niblack during the covid pandemic. It's hosted on the SPARK Practice platform but doesn't require a Practice Room membership to participate.
If you want to be part of Performance Lab, that series requires a Practice Room membership.
You're looking for the SPARK Learning Environment, which can be found at play.sparkpractice.com
If you need a receipt, please check your email (and spam!)
Troubleshooting and technical questions can be found HERE.
Yes. Videos and audio that you post for challenges and asking for feedback from other Practice Room members is confidential. Anything from SPARK Boosts is also confidential.
We have a very strict no-troll policy. No recordings, no sharing other people's private stuff, no being mean-spirited. No second chances if you're mean or share someone else's community posts without express permission. Any misconduct means an immediate and permanent ban, and because it's a violation of the terms and conditions, there's no refund.
Short answer? Yes. Here are some stories of SPARK Practice helping.
Longer answer? Also yes - SPARK Practice is strategic training of practice for performance, and mental preparation / nervous system training - while cultivating support, curiosity, creativity, and fun.
We figured out the formula to practice better, cultivate supportive mindsets, and perform confidently - every time - all with a supportive community and a big dose of fun.
With expert-led, neuroscience-driven strategies and frameworks, the Intentional Practice System(tm) strategically builds practice, mindset, and performance. We boost the science with fun and community (which also is science).
I get it - I've been there. I stopped playing for 5 years when I graduated from conservatory.
It's totally ok. Sometimes it's great to have someone sit with you and help you look at - I like to use the analogy of emptying the backpack on the kitchen table. Let's see what's in there - keep the good stuff, put away what needs to be put away, clear out the chewing gum and receipts, and look at what's actually going on.
Whatever you have going on is figure-out-able, and I'm great at helping you see what resources / support you actually have so you can lean into what you want - with an expert-guided plan to maximize your effort, connect with your intrinsic motivation, and make major strides forward.
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Performance success starts in the practice room.
When you learn how to practice, the whole world opens.
SARAH NIBLACK, THE PRACTICE PROFESSOR
01
Welcome to SPARK Practice!
Check out the Video Introduction to the AVS & SPARK Practice residency.
02
Watch, Print, & Play
Enjoy the videos, print out the weekly playbook, & put some SPARK in your practice
03
Share in the Practice Room
Join the Practice Room community to get encouragement & share!
SPARK Practice Timer
Interleaved practice for better progress
The SPARK Practice Timer is an essential took to organize your practice.
Using Interleaved Interval training, pick a practice strategy for each SPARK element, set the timer, and experience expert practice.
Great practice starts with a PlanThe SPARK
Practice Essentials Kit
Great practice starts with a PlanThese three proven tools for you and your students need to organize your practice, get the most out of lessons and always make progress in the practice room!
Your data is safe and will never be sold, and only shared with your permission. Check your email to get your guide and subscribe.
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The SPARK Practice Universe
The Intentional Practice ecosystem of support
Great practice isn't about practicing more or beating yourself up - it's about working with your brain instead of against it.
Click below to enjoy these expert tools and world-class resources to find your spark with SPARK Practice.
Powerful Community
Group Practice, Audition Club, Performance Lab, Events, and Connections with musicians
Research -driven Resources, Best Practice(s) Blog & Podcast, Signature Practice Plans
SPARK Performance Mindset, Breathe Brave, and Nervous System Resilience Training
SPARK PATH Phases of Performance Calculator, Brave Performance Profile, Plans, and Simulators
Teacher Support
Resources, Courses, Lesson Plan, Student Autonomy, and Support Groups
READY TO FIND YOUR SPARK?
Start Practicing Better Today
At SPARK Practice, we want you to be empowered, motivated, & passionate in your musical instrument practice. Please share your experiences, progress, questions, and news with #sparkpractice
Grab the SPARK Practice Get Started Guide now!
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