In the beginning of the month I wrote a post called “10 Ways to Improve Your Playing.” It was so popular that I decided to write about 10 + 1 more ways! This list I feel in some ways dives a little bit deeper than the last, though that doesn’t mean the first list isn’t [...]
No matter what your instrument, the keys to success stay consistent. Here are 10 simple ways to improve your playing!
As stated in the classroom analogy, it is difficult to efficiently process multiple sources of information and consciously retain all of it. It is for this reason that we learn to split concepts and techniques in their practice. Aside from your normal routine of running through music and scales, take the time to skyrocket your [...]
You have to practice for an hour, so you pull out your piece and run through the notes as fast as you can. It sounded all right… Why don’t you play it again? Not much different than last time and still just as difficult, but you’re still putting time into it so there must be [...]
We have all grown up hearing the familiar phrase, “Practice makes perfect!” There is the idea that the more you practice, the better you’ll get. But does it really end there, or is there something that your parents missed?
Practicing is really the process of creating a muscle memory, which is defined as “a phrase referring [...]
Several years ago I took an independent study class at my high school. Every day I had 90 minutes of practice time and had to prepare something for a recital at the end of the term. On the very first day of this particular class my orchestra director, always full of music wisdom, shared a great nugget with us.
“I always practiced, but I never really knew how to practice until I had gotten to college. Had I known and used this before- I could have excelled so much earlier and faster!” Not only did he tell us to keep a journal, but also how to keep a one in such a way that will really show us improvement. “Its important to structure and plan out your practice session in order to be the most productive with your time.”