Being a music major is so rewarding. In essence, I literally am studying how to better myself at what I love to do anyway. However, most of the work is done alone, in a practice room. Practice rooms are magical places where you can hear the world outside you, judging you as you do your long tone exercises. As you continue to practice, your insecurities tend to lessen, but practice rooms are not just a place for bettering yourself. Procrastination often sets in, which leads to a number of techniques that are followed in order to avoid touching your instrument. Here are a few things to do in a practice room, besides practice.
1. Take Selfies
For whatever reason, practice room selfies are the best selfie. Maybe the lighting is good. Maybe the illusion that you're being productive is impressive. This is one of life's mysteries. But since the beginning of time, music majors have taken practice room selfies, and will continue until photos and practicing become obsolete.
2. Eat A Snack
Probably not the best thing to do when you're supposed to be putting air through an instrument, but I've definitely hidden out in a practice room to scarf down a PopTart really quickly. When you have five hours of straight classes, sometimes you just need the privacy to unattractively eat some food.
3. Cry
Actual footage of me after auditions.
Ever just needed a safe place to let out your feelings? Let me introduce you to a hallway of small rooms in which everyone is making loud noises! No one will hear your wails over the soprano next door who is making shockingly similar sounds.
4. Meditate
I'm not sure if this is a normal thing, but I have walked into a seemingly empty practice room to almost step on a brass player's face. It was pretty dark too; I guess he just needed a second to chill out. By all means, a practice room is a good place to just release your stress! Just make sure no one steps on you, if you choose to lie on the floor where brass players empty their spit keys.
5. Take A Nap
Don't do this too often. At high noon until about 4 o'clock, practice rooms are a commodity that are hard to come by. Don't be a jerk that hogs one for some Z's. But if there are a bunch of empty ones, and you've had a hard day of pretending to practice, no one will mind if your head slumps onto the piano keys, (unless they have perfect pitch and the piano hasn't been tuned), while you catch up on sleep you missed while you were crying in a practice room.
6. Gossip
I don't recommend this either. The walls have ears. But if you really need to spill that T before leaving the music building, at least you can lower your voice to be below that horn player practicing The Firebird Suite.
7. Practice Your Instrument (???)
Actually using a practice room to practice? What is this madness I am spewing? Who would think that you could use a room designed for your personal use to better yourself for that exact purpose?
So next time you want to laugh at those weird music majors, take a moment to reflect on their day. Maybe it's been rough. Maybe they're exhausted from having more than five classes. But most importantly, maybe you're just jealous you don't have practice rooms.
