What do instrumentalists, vocalists, songwriters, magicians, dancers, actors, authors, painters, sculptors, photographers, and multi-media artists have in common?  They're all struggling to make their individual practicing more fulfilling.  Whether you're a complete beginner or seasoned pro, ask yourself these three simple questions:

     1) is my practicing conscious ?
     2) is my practicing creative ?
     3) is my practicing consistent ? 

In order for your practicing to really work, you need all three qualities to be in place: Consciousness, Creativity, and Consistency.  This workshop brings together artists from different performing and fine arts worlds to catalyze your practicing, regardless of: 1) how technically advanced you are, 2) how narrowly or widely focused you are, or 3) how commercially successful you are. 

Here are some of the concepts and tools we'll cover for any artist will who wants to make their art move them >

     * creating a more inviting practice environment
     * acknowledging your practice distractions
     * prioritizing your projects
     * designing, scheduling, & documenting your practicing
     * recognizing your different patience levels for different activities 
     * breaking down technical issues effectively
     * learning how to record & review your practicing compassionately
     * choosing appropriate situations to perform in
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Michael Smolens has been teaching privately and in groups since 1974, and is adjunct faculty at JFK and Sonoma State Universities. (He has been coaching other freelance teachers since 2000).  He has studied with some of the most progressive artists of our day—including Art Lande, Kenny Werner, and W.A. Mathieu—and is influenced by a wide range of modalities, including: physical re-training methodology, linguistic-conceptual models, Buddhism, along with Western and various world music traditions.  He has written extensively on art of practicing and facilitated workshops on the topic nationally. As a performer Michael is a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist and has accompanied leading artists such as folk/storyteller Claudia Schmidt, Sufi Master Jalaludin Lorcas, and stage magician Jeff McBride.  He currently leads five different project bands and his compositions have been recorded by jazz legends Paul McCandless (reeds), Stefon Harris (vibes), and Pandit Zakir Hussain (tablas). 
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