Next Practicing Sucks Book Signing on October 25th

The next workshop and book signing for Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have to! will be on October 25, 2009 at 3:30 PM.  It is free and open to everyone and we’d really love to see all of you there.  At the last book signing, we proved to a whole new group of people that everyone can use the “Sucks” method to learn faster, easier, with more success and lesss frustration. Address: Borders, Aventura, 19925 Biscayne Blvd.  See you there!!

Book Signings and Mini Workshops for Practicing Sucks

For Immediate Release

October 6, 2009.  Barnes and Noble, Borders hosting series of book signings and workshops for Phyllis Sdoia-Satz and Barry Satz’s newest book PRACTICING SUCKS BUT IT DOESN”T HAVE TO!

 

Several Barnes and Noble and Borders bookstores around town are celebrating the “coming out” of Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To!, the newest book  by Phyllis Sdoia-Satz and Barry Satz (Rowman and Littlefield) with book signings and half-hour workshops/demonstrations that will show how the revolutionary Practicing Sucks method works.      

• Monday,  October 12, 2009, 7 PM, Borders,  19925 Biscayne Blvd. Aventura, FL 305 935 0027 (changed to Sunday, October 25, 2009, 3 PM.)
• Thursday, October 15, 2009  4 PM, Barnes and Noble 2051 N. Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale 954 561 3732
• Thursday, October 15, 2009, 7 PM, Barnes and Noble  12405 N. Kendall Drive, Kendall, FL 305 598 7727
• Sunday, October 25, 2009, 3 PM, Borders, Aventura  19925 Biscayne Blvd. Aventura, FL
• Wednesday,  November 11, 2009 7 PM, Barnes and Noble, Boca Raton, FL
• Sunday, November 15, 2009 3 PM Borders, Aventura 19925 Biscayne Blvd. Aventura, FL
• Sunday, December 13, 2009 3 PM Borders, Aventura  19925 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura, FL

Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To! is a new system of learning which teaches students, their families and their instructors how to derive the most benefit from instruction in the least possible time. In a no-nonsense but humorous style, it  offers hundreds of ideas, tips and suggestions which enable students to learn practically anything two to four times faster, easier, with more success and less frustration.

 

During the workshop/demonstration, Mr. and Mrs. Satz will take volunteers from the audience, teach them all the white keys on a piano keyboard, and how to read music notation and within  less than  ten minutes, the volunteers will play a simple piece on the piano by notes.

 

Although originally geared for music instruction, the Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To! method works for anything requiring practice, study, repetition and memorization, and it actually cuts months, sometimes even years from the learning process. This new method of teaching/learning has engendered so much interest that the Florida Department of Education is including portions of the book in the new Sunshine States Standards. In addition, the Dade County School Board has scheduled a three hour seminar for school teachers, for which they will receive educational credit.

Friday, Sept. 25th We’re on Comcast Newsmakers

On Friday, september 25th, 2009 we will tape a spot on Comcast Newsmakers. We’ll tell you all about Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To! by Phyllis Sdoia-Satz and Barry Satz. The 5 minute spot will air 40 times during the month of October.  Look for us.

Publication date: August 28, 2009

Rowman and Littlefield has announced that they will have Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To, written by Phyllis Sdoia-Satz and Barry Satz  on the bookshelves on August 28, 2009, and have already scheduled abooksigning at Borders in South Miami right before that. What’s great about the Sdoia-Satz Method that is explained in Practicing Sucks is that it works for ANYTHING (not just music instruction) that requires practice, study and repetition. That means the golfer and tennis player  can use this method to improve their game. The gymnast can use the ideas in Practicing Sucks to improve gymnastics practice. The skater can use these methods, and someone who has homework every night can improve the efficiency and get it done in less time using the ideas in Practicing Sucks.  For information on how to order the book go to http://www.rowmaneducation.com/Catalog/SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=1607090074

More About Practicing Sucks

We are now heavily into revising Practicing Sucks…But It Doesn’t Have To!!! for Rowman and Littlefield. Strange, it doesn’t look anything like the original manuscript. 

Parents — did you know that if you don’t get your child’s instrument fixed, the child will be frustrated when he/she tries to practice?  And if you offer the child a “reward” of not practicing on the weekend if he/she practices well during the week, you are giving a REWARD for not practicing?  Better to suggest, ” ‘Practice early’, so that you have the rest of the day free.”  Keep an eye out here. I’ll write another couple of tips for how to practice and get the best benefit from your practice soon.

Phyllis Sdoia-Satz

PRACTICING SUCKS…But It Doesn’t Have To!!!

We just heard from Rowman and Littlefield that PRACTICING SUCKS…But It Doesn’t Have To!!! is not going to be in the stores until about March 2009.  It takes that long to do the editing and all the other things it takes to produce a book. That means we miss the winter holiday season.  That’s not good.  One could even say that IT SU…  well, you know what I mean.

To Portia

Thanks for your comment, Portia.  You didn’t mention that you’re a student who has learned piano by making use of these tips.,,,,and look at how far you’ve come.  Congratulations.

 

Phyllis Satz

Contract signed with Rowman & Littlefield for Practicing Sucks…But It Doesn’t Have To!!!

Good news.  We have just signed a contract with Rowman & Littlefield for publication of, “Practicing Sucks…But It Doesn’t Have To!!!.  Now the editing and the work REALLY begins.  We don’t have a set publication date yet, but I’m hoping it will be in time for the holidays

Phyllis Satz

An Answer for Angel

Angel asked:

Ms. Satz (I’m assuming I’m talking to the author of the book, correct me if I’m wrong), I have a teenaged daughter who plays the flute. But, sometimes, she would rather play with her friends than practice. I know she’s good, because her music teacher at school said she was, but sometimes…well, she’s just not that into it. Is there anything I can do to get her to practice more or take it seriously? She really has talent, and I don’t want to push her, but I don’t want her to miss out, either. Any suggestions? Angel

You might try arranging for her to play little programs in hospitals and nursing homes.  Even a half hour program would be appreciated by the patients.  Also you might try seting her up with a few other music students and have them play duets or trios, and practice if possible in your house, or a community center, or even in a park (especially during the summer). The problem with getting someone to practice is that they don’t see the forest for the trees.  They think that all there is is practice and no reward.  The reward is finally getting out there and DOING IT!!! The FUN comes from being able to play for people and having them enjoy it and the applause doesn’t hurt either.  It makes the student feel that all the work is worthwhile.  One small concert is good for at least two weeks of inspirational practice. When you have friends over, if the student likes to play, ask her or him to play for your friends. (Of course, if your teenager doesn’t like to play for people, that one won’t work.) Don’t expect the student to want to sit for hours at a time and practice.  Smaller sections of time — a half hour here, a half hour there, works better than expecting a student to practice two hours at a stretch.  Maybe the student will do a better job first thing in the morning for a while, and then later in the day again, and then before bedtime. Choosing periods during the day when nothing else competes with the practice often works well too.  Don’t forget about taking the teenager to concerts where he/she can hear real musicians play the instrument.  Oh, and another thing, never, never tell the student that what he’s playing sounds badly (even if it does).  That’s the quickest way to turn the student off.  Always think positive.  Be creative in your suggestions, and above all, be supportive.  The support of a parent is very important, even if the student pretends it isn’t.  I wish you and your teenager the very best of luck.  Musically speaking, Phyllis Sdoia-Satz

 

Do you have a child studying music who just doesn’t like to practice

Parents of students here at Sdoia-Satz Music Institute, often ask us how to get their children to practice. That’s one of the biggest reasons I wrote the book….to help students, and parents of students find ways to make practice more tolerable.  Let’s face it.  Practicing isn’t fun, but the tips in “Practicing Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To” helps make practicing more productive and enables the student to accomplish more in less time.