The One Musical Tool You Absolutely Must Own

What if I told you there was a transformative musical tool that was portable, sturdy, intuitive, and dirt cheap?

Now what if I told you there was a 99% chance chance that this tool was already in your house? I mean…WOW!

I’m talking, of course, about the pencil (or, for you high-tech converts, the stylus). The pencil is likely to be the single most powerful and versatile musical tool you own, yet it very seldom gets its due.

Until now! This month I’m hoping to inspire you to pick up your pencil with confidence and intention– because it really can make you a better musician.

Pencils ready? Here are four important ways to use them:

Mark Mistakes: Here’s my rule: If I miss something once– misread a note or a rhythm, fail to remember to repeat, etc.– no problem. But if I miss the same thing twice, I break out the pencil and mark it. No exceptions. Repeated errors mean I need to add a visual support for my future self. That might mean writing in a note name. It might mean circling a tricky rhythm. It might mean scratching in what another part is doing, or drawing eyeglasses to remind myself to look up– whatever will be helpful in the moment. In no way, shape, or form is this cheating. Rather, it is setting yourself up for success!

Mark Beats: Many of us have difficulty with rhythms that cross beats or are not precisely aligned with the pulse of the music. This can be especially true as we begin to use longer note values, like half notes or whole notes, as our basic pulse. Marking in your beats, usually by way of little tics at the top of the staff, is a terrific way to support yourself during these difficult passages. This is not a crutch– it is a smart self-assist!

Mark Breaths: Sure, you might breathe in felicitous places if you entrust your breathing plan to the whim of the moment. But you’re much more likely to interrupt phrases, run out of air, or otherwise squander the opportunity to knit your breath into your music making. Marking your breaths in advance is a terrific way to increase the chance that your breathing will serve the music, as opposed to the other way around.

Make Group Decisions: So much of our music-making takes place in groups. And groups, in order to be musically unified, need to make and stick to musical decisions. Unless you have the steel-trap mind of a tween, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to remember these decisions in the moment without some kind of written cue. Writing in group decisions is part of your duty as an ensemble member.

Sense a theme here? Use your pencil! Use it frequently! And use it with pride!