So often people try to convince us that something is not good for us. Why? Perhaps because they want it instead or they really believe it isn't good for us, or they simply, for some reason, are blocking us. That's where our personal judgment skill comes in to play.

Many times during my life, people have tried to convince me to drop something. For certain there have been people trying to convince me to drop THE ENCHANTED SELF project, as it has been an expensive passion. As those of us know who publish books and newsletters, oftentimes financial returns are minimal if at all. But my father's lessons in learning to make clear judgment decisions and evaluating circumstances have stayed with me. I see THE ENCHANTED SELF as a long-range project over many years and every day that I can educate and help someone or share in mutuality of positive stories I am at peace with myself.

I wish all of you a continued opportunity to come to peace with yourselves again and again as you walk your particular road of ENCHANTMENT!

Good Practicing Skills: Often music students get into habit of playing an exercise or study over and over again, first at a slow pace and eventually faster and that is called "practicing"! There is much more to practicing than that. You must learn to hear and sing melodies that are being practiced. You must isolate "problem" (rhythmically or technically) passages. Above all, you must develop a regimen and method of practicing and become acutely sensitive to monitoring progress. This takes time and experimentation and perhaps a little bit of research.

Last but not least: before you even start playing or practicing you need a good warm-up. The warm-up starts out as basic as first relaxing your arms and shoulders, stretching fingers, deep breathing to expand lungs and make sure you have a standing or sitting posture that supports your breathing and does not disrupt it. On that note I'd like to say, "Have fun and practice with common sense".