Music practice

Subject: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 04:50 AM

How, exactly does everyone else practice? Do you just play random tunes? Do you do scales and stuff?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 10:09 AM

Usually I just start playing, and if I hit a tricky bit, I play it several times. If I encounter an unusual chord at the piano, I might play a couple of scales to see how it fits in, but that's all.

When singing, I start out with gentle songs of limited range (Stewball is a good one) to warm up the vocal folds.

What do you play, Lynne?

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 11:54 AM

I play recorder, mostly self-taught, and I sing. I now have a bombarde but can't be said to be able to play it! Until last weekend I couldn't get more than three notes at a time out of it, but Jude from Isambarde shaved my reed for me and I can now get a tune, but it doesn't sound brilliant yet! (If ever) Never really occurs to me to practise singing, though I suppose one should. I only practise if I'm learning a new song and sing it over and over until I remember it

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Pied Piper
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:13 PM

Hi Lynne I play Recorder and Bombarde amongst other things.
I use Pakistani Bagpipe reeds for the bombardes I play (about 50p each from a company called FCN) and they work well. I use a more Arabic technique that does not touch the reed blades but they work in the traditional manner too. The important thing is the staple diameter if it's too large the second octave will be sharp and visa versa. The Asian made Pipe reeds are very variable so you might have to order a few a few times but at the price it's well worth it in the end.

PP

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:20 PM

Thanks PP...I had heard that the reeds are hard to get hold of.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:22 PM

Practice usually includes:


Review of known material/technique-- Warmup: Relaxed playing through oldies to keep them fresh and to be able to start from what is played/sung well before moving on to next step.

Development of known material/technique-- Jamming: Improvisation, experimentation, creative play.

Exploration of new material/technique-- Non-critical learning: Noodling around to find what may work.

Assessment of repertoire, by piece-- Critical thinking: Is a given piece ready to perform in public? Do adjustments need to be made in key, technique, skill in order to bring a piece to ready?

Farewells-- Letting go: Putting piece(s) to bed for some length of time if it is not ready for development

Playing with others-- Musicianship: Periodic sharing of material to see how it goes in group. Cuts across all of the above.


Any given piece can be in any one of these phases and/or move through them.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Janie
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:27 PM

It takes practice?

That explains a lot about my own level of expertise:>)

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Kaleea
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:52 PM

When I was teaching in Topeka, Kansas, I got a call from an older gentleman. He asked me if I teach scales when I teach Guitar. Well, yes, as a matter of fact I have always done that even if I had to disguise them as a tune for the "kids." That's what he wanted to hear-he explained to me that he studied Guitar at the Charlie Parker School of Music in Kansas City, but with winter coming on, he was hoping to find a Guitar teacher locally & he figured if I taught scales I must know how to teach correctly. Charlie Parker, he said, always taught that scales are the basis for all Music.


How I practice depends somewhat upon which instrument. Voice, I vocalize for at least 30-45 minutes before any singing of songs & an hour is much better. (Vocalizing incorporates scales & portions of scales) I vocalize every day unless I have some sort of creepin crud respiratory/throat thing.
Piano, I begin slowly to allow the old arthritis to calm down, with both hands starting toward the left end of the keyboard in the key of C going up slowly then back down. Then, going around the circle of fifths. Then arpeggios.
Brass instrument, I buzz my chops & then in the mouthpiece in arpeggios first, then it's long round tones on the horn for awhile, -maybe longer than other folks as I don't play much these days.
Flutes, I begin with middle tones in whole notes going down, then up. Yeah, scales. Gotta get that embouchure goin'.
Whistles, gee--Irish tunes seem to be full of scales & portions of scales.
Pickin' instruments, I get the old fingers going in one key or another in an upward & downward manner--yeah, I guess that'd be scales. Before I rehearse any given tune, I play scales in that key to get the correct notes "under my fingers."
Autoharp, (mine is tuned chromatically) I get my fingerpicks on & play scales up & down in whatever key so that my fingers remember "where the notes lie on the strings" in that particular key before I play any tune. I often have to try different keys before I decide which key to choose for a given tune.
& similarly for other instruments--I use scales on every instrument (except many percussions) as all my teachers taught. Mr Parker knew what he was doing.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 02:32 PM

My stepson uses his violin practice as a form of aggression. He claims he cannot practice in a room with the door closed because it "hurts his ears" - and so it hurts my ears.
It is my opinion that the sound of a child practicing violin is the most horrible torture ever devised by man.
Usually, my wife doesn't let Josh practice when I'm in the house. Bless her.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 02:33 PM

I generally play scales, harmonized scales, chord scales, and mixed scales. I generally pick out a melody that I know and intepolate scale movements of one kind or another into it. Unfortunately, because I haven't performed in a long time, I haven't really work up any songs for a long time. The net effect has been that I can't actually play much of anything anymore--

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 02:42 PM

...pick out a chord pattern i like off a recording and loop it ... then improvise to it ... using major scale, minor scale, pentatonic, and a "middle eastern" scale which has either a minor 2nd interval in it or a sharped 5th, (or maybe the "devil's interval" the flatted fifth) or both ...or a combo of all three....

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:19 PM

find the nearest public toilet -block the doors to stop anyone coming in,(desperate women can always brave the men's urinals) then sing the first two lines of the first song in your set, pronounce it a complete disaster and begin to change the set completely even though you have five minutes before the performance- then skip through the first line of the new songs in your revised set and then on the way back to the stage decide the original songs were better even though you cant remember which key they are supposed to be in - singing -we love it!

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:50 PM

Just the word "practice" is enough to make me want to put an instrument away...too many music lessons and too much "practice" time I suppose. I prefer to think of it as just playing. I play whatever happens to be catching my ear and I play it until I am either happy with it or tired of trying to play it. Sometimes I play just one or two songs for a lengthy time or I might play several different songs for a shorter time period...just depends on my mood and schedule.

I have never set a "practice/play time" as an adult because I find joy and relaxation in playing...the regimented schedule kills it for me.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:58 PM

Thanks for all that..there's a lot of really useful stuff there.

I don't do set practice time either...I see my recorder and have to pick it up and play it, but then, I may as well make good use of that urge.

Big problem with a lot of the above is that I've never actually learnt music, so I know very little of the theory side. I don't actually know what an arpeggio is and my knowledge of things like keys and minor and major thingies is almost non-existant.

At the moment I tend to play a few tunes I paricularly like, perhaps play a few often-played session-type tunes from a big book of them we have, then maybe try and work out something that's in my head at the time.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 04:51 PM

Lynne,

    I never learned music theory either. I was taught where the notes were, their names, what a half, eight, whole and quarter note are, and what a rest is. I never learned scales or chords or any of that. Sometimes I wish I had. When the urge strikes me hard enough, perhaps I'll take the time to figure it out. Until then, I play for enjoyment.

And hey...I play the recorder too....taught myself too! I'm not great at it but it's fun and you really CAN'T look at it just sitting there and NOT pick it up!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: treewind
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 05:32 PM

So you (MBSLynne) were the one blowing the Bombarde at Miskin!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Tootler
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 06:04 PM

I also play recorder and am largely self taught. I did have lessons more recently and I attend workshops fairly regularly.

I practice by playing tunes. I play music to enjoy myself so I play tunes. That is what I enjoy. If I come across a tricky bit, I will work at it until I can get it reasonably correct. I find this will transfer itself when I come across similar passages in other tunes.

As someone said earlier traditional dance tunes have a lot of scales and arpeggios in them anyway, so playing tunes helps albeit in a limited number of keys.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Don Firth
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 07:27 PM

Vocally, I try to get in some practice every day, at least warming up the voice. I have a regular routine that I found on the internet:   a group of Vocal Exercises put together by Brenda C. Kayne, along with her Comments. I don't know who Ms. Kayne is, but the exercises and her remarks are very close to warm-up and practice exercises that voice teachers I've studied with in the past had me doing. I start with these, and then often move on to another group:   Vocalise by June Bowser. Once again, I don't know who she is, but the exercises are good. With both sets I start low, sing the exercise, then take it up a half-step, and sing it again, then up another half-step, and so on. I don't do them all every time, but I always start out with ones that lie within a limited range, then work up to the ones that reach a bit (like 12 and 16 in the June Bowser group). But I never take any of them beyond what feels comfortable on that particular day.

After I'm well warmed up, I sing four or five songs I already know, without accompaniment. I try to do different ones every day, so over a period of time, I go through the whole list. Then I try to get through whatever new song I'm working on (also without accompaniment), looking at the words only when I have to. I try to put in a minimum of a half-hour a day, but I don't always make it. I try, though.

An inhibiting factor is that I live in an apartment building, and if I hear that my upstairs neighbor is home, I get a bit "practice shy." On the one hand, I don't want to disturb her, and on the other, I'd just as soon not have people hear me make some of the really Gawd-awful sounds I can make when I'm practicing.

With the guitar, I warm up the fingers by playing a few chords, scales, and arpeggios, then sing the same songs I sang in the voice warm-up with accompaniment. Then, if I don't have a good accompaniment worked out for whatever new song I'm working on, I'll tinker and fuss with it a while. Then I sing a few more songs just 'cuz I feel like it.

At one time, I was on my way to becoming a halfway decent classical guitarist. Not a big repertoire, but I use to be able to impress the hell out of a coffeehouse audience by sticking a classic guitar solo somewhere into a set of songs, and I could play for meetings of the Seattle Classic Guitar Society without them pointing and giggling too much. But within recent decades, a lot of that has slid because I didn't have the time to keep it up. Right now, I'm trying to get my mojo back, so I put in a fair amount of time on the guitar. I have the Aaron Shearer manuals, Classic Guitar Technique, Vols I & II and The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Vols I & II, along with the Mel Bay editions of The Complete Carcassi Guitar Method, and The Complete Sor Studies for the Guitar by Fernando Sor, compiled and fingered by David Grimes. I spend an hour or more a day (well . . . most days) hopping back and forth between these, and I'm trying to re-up a lot of the pieces I used to play, along with learning some new ones. Segovia used to practice four to six hours a day, every day. I'm trying to gradually up my practice time.

Hope springs eternal. I just ordered a batch of books and manuals yesterday: Kitharologus: The Path to Virtuosity, by Ricardo Iznaola (he claims that there are only a limited number of movements on the guitar, and he has isolated these so they can be practiced and mastered separately, then when you encounter them in a new piece you're learning, it'll be old stuff); Technique, Mechanism, Learning, by concert and recording artist Eduardo Fernandez; Fretboard Logic SE: The Reasoning Behind the Guitar's Unique Tuning + Chords, Scales, and Arpeggios (The Fretboard Logic Guitar Method Parts I and II), by Bill Edwards; plus a couple of other manuals, including one on practicing for performance by Ricardo Iznaola.

I guess some folks got turned off because they were forced to practice when they were young, and that's really too bad. I think I grew up in a pretty musical family, although we were more listeners than performers. My mother took some piano lessons when she was a kid, and my younger sister had piano lessons when she was a sprat, but I chose to take some singing lessons when I was about eighteen, just for the fun of it, and because a couple of friends of mine were into opera and were taking lessons.   I had no idea what I would ever do with it. Then I decided I wanted to learn to play the guitar when I was about twenty. I was never forced to practice. As a result, I enjoy practicing. It's bloody hard work, but I like it. I don't do all of the stuff I outline above every day, but I do try, and sometimes I get in a fair amount of practice most days of the week.

Well, you did ask!

Don Firth

P. S. On the classic guitar stuff, I've taken to practicing with a metronome lately (Sabine ZipBeat-6000 Digital Metronome, they list for $35.00, but Amazon has them for about $20.00). I set it very slow, slow enough so I can play whatever exercise or piece I'm working on without making mistakes. Then I up the metronome a click or two and play it, again, hopefully without mistakes. I gradually increasing the speed until I can play it without goofing it several clicks faster than it should be played. Then, I back off and play it at the correct tempo. The adage is, "Don't practice your mistakes." It really seems to be helping.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Sean Belt
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 10:57 PM

I'm also one of those who doesn't really practice, but just plays a lot. I play fiddle, lap dulcimer, banjo, mandolin and guitar. I try to pick up at least two of them everyday and get at least some playing time in. Though lately, I'll admit I've been favoring the fiddle.

Generally, I start with running a few scales just to warm the fingers up. Then I'll play some tunes I know for relaxation and move on to tunes I'm wanting to learn. If there are rough spots (and there always are), or difficult bits, I'll work them until I'm either satisfied or too frustrated to go on.

Hmmm... As I look at what I've written, it almost seems like a practice routine, though I've never thought of it as that before.

Peace,
Sean Ruprecht-Belt

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Bert
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 11:08 PM

My attention span is very limited if I try to do any amount of practice at home.

So I just go along to a local open mic and inflict them.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 03:27 AM

I am really picking up some useful stuff here. THIS is what Mudcat is all about, not all the bickering and fighting that goes on elsewhere! Thaks guys!

I play for enjoyment too, but lately I've begun to feel the need to expand a bit. My lack of knowledge restricts me from developing musically. So...I shall follow some of the really useful advice on here and see how I get on! And practise singing too!

And yes Anahata..that was me...sorry! Though Geoff Duck was also blowing his at one stage and Isambarde Jude blew mine (beautifully I might add) so I wasn't solely guilty!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:03 PM

Playing music without any 'technical knowledge' is possible, and not as fatal as driving a car without knowing how to handle a skid (front or rear), knowing just how far it takes to brake in varying road conditions, etc, but there are many "things you never dreamt of, Horatio!".

Scales ARE the basis of classical music, you practice the finger movements (including turning the thumb under on the piano) to get from each note to the next one for each scale. You also practice arpeggios, which are the basis for 'simple chords'. Scales are good for pitch training for singers too.

You also get specially written exercise books designed to strengthen each finger movement (like the Ricardo Iznaola concepts mentioned above). Can't remember the exact name of the concept now, but the original ones were for piano - and you can get them for piano accordion too. As a mainly keyboard trained guy, I suspect that there are similar books for most other instruments too.

The BASIS of 'classical music training' is to know 'all the twiddly bits' of music theory, so that you 'just use them' - one of the reasons that classically trained musos often seem to look down their noses at self trained and folk musos who often seem to not want to understand where the classically trained muso is coming from. OK one is not forced into the 'mould', but ignorance is not really bliss!

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Sean Belt
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 10:42 PM

I'll go you one further; scales are the basis of ALL music.

Cheers,
Sean

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 11:10 PM

I start by picking and singing a song I know inside out, to warm up fingers and voice.

Then, I'll try one in a different key. I'll pick a couple of reels jigs or hornpipes each in a different key.

My version of scales, I suppose.

If I'm learning a new piece, I'll play it over and over until I've got it, then play it again.

If it's a piece to do on stage, I do it early in my set (like within the first 3 songs) to get the new-song butterflies out of the way.

I notice with some of the posters' practice habits that it would be difficult for them to play in a band, or professionally.
But if you're playing just for yourself, heck, anything goes!

Seamus

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 11:29 PM

I don't ever practice (well, hardly ever) since our cat Lucy won't let me. She likes hearing me play--when I start she climbs on top of the piano to listen. But if I try to practice--go over a passage, for instance, she comes down and sits on the keys.   (It's a good excuse not to do scales too).

I also never practice singing--just sing most of the day except at work. The more you sing, the more comfortable you are doing it. Always looking for good acoustics--the stairwell at work is good, as is of course, the shower. Always trying to learn new songs, especially songs with a chorus, so a group can join in.

Probably should practice something--but what the hell, music is FUN.

Would certainly agree a bit of music theory is worth it. Reading music, circle of fifths, relative minors, normal chord progressions etc. You don't need much.

This sort of thread is indeed what Mudcat is all about--but look who's not here to comment.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 11:45 PM

Well I'll admit my chorus does have warm-ups for at least 10-15 minutes every rehearsal. Lots of scales and arpeggios, whole step scales, half step scales, dynamic range exercises, rhythm exercises, stretching your range, singing intervals--and some others. So that's at least once a week--more if a concert is coming up.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Bert
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 03:15 AM

...I notice with some of the posters' practice habits that it would be difficult for them to play in a band,..

Good point Seamus, I hate jamming which is probably very similar to playing in a band.

I find it difficult to hear myself and others at the same time, possibly because for the first few years of my working life I had a job where it was essential to cut out background noise.

P'raps if I practice more I'll get better at it.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:11 AM

In the last couple of years I've started, very tentatively, playing in slower sessions. I'm quite proud of the way I'm developing the ability to pick up a tune I've never heard before and play along, but I have a feeling that if I do start practising scales and arpeggios it's going to become easier.

My daughter (Grade 1 flute) has lent me her flute book with scales and arpegs in the back so I started on them this morning. My son (Grade 5 oboe) is also keen to explain the whys and wherefores of basic theory, so I'm advancing.

When I am a good and accomplished player, it will be due to the whole of the folk 'family'!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Stringsinger
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:04 PM

It's been my experience that there are different approaches to practice. Some people are more visualy, some aural, some methodical, some through immersion many hours per day.

There are two kinds of practice.

1. Mass practice whereby you sit with your instrument for hours at a time.

2. Distributed practice which involves a small amount each day or increments throughout the day.

Contiguous distributive practice is generally best for this reason. Your ability to absorb new information breaks down after a certain time period. Your learning is inversely proportional to the amount of practice time to which you subject youself.

The best way to do it is small increments at a time either throughout the day or a little every day. The former is better.

Physical mmory is the most potent memory device we have. This is why a mass practice session and then skipping days between is not the best approach to retain muscle memory.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: alanww
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 08:43 PM

Hey Lynne, dear sweet smiling Lynne with the talented children and with the happy, friendly husband ... whatever you do, just keep going! Go to as many sessions as you can and try to join in everything which is played (but quietly!). It will help your ears to pick up the tunes and your brain to translate that into the actions of your fingers with the instrument. (However, just maybe the bombarde is not the friendliest session instrument I have come across - unless you can fit a silencer, of course!)
And in between you should practice for short lengths of time but often, certainly daily and preferably multiple times per day! Go for it and at Sidmouth FF we will both take our instruments into the Anchor Middle Bar and enjoy the look on Tony's face!
Love and kisses ...
"Dancing and singing, bell ringing!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 05:03 AM

Lol!! I don't think I'm that brave Alan! Tony keeps a gun under the bench to shoot rebellious singer/musicians!

Actually, that's all good,because I do tend to have little tootles whenever I walk past my recorder, so that works.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Hawker
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 05:37 AM

Be brave Lynne! I have been 'playing' the violin for 18 months now and
I tend to think I play it every evening for about an hour rather than 'practise!' I also play once a week with other local people on a Tuesday morninig at my house, they are learning concertina and Lute though all are excellent guitarists. another lady has just joined us on the clarinet! It has really helped to play with other musicians, as you not only have to play nut also listen to the others.
I joined in the session upstairs on Saturday night at Miskin with Anahata and Mary H among others, I tried to play quietly and I think I got away with it! - well nobody complained anyway!
With the harp, I do not feel anywhere near competant! I still need to do all the finger excercises and all that, but one day..........
Cheers Lucy

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 11:18 AM

Chance to play with other musicians around here is not great. It's part of the reason I started the NWLeicestershire Quarter sessions, but they seem to be more folk-cluby than sessiony really.

I've already played four times today and learnt the Fmajor scale and arpeggio. From that I've learnt more because Richard had to explain a couple of things to me.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Hawker
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 01:27 PM

I also found that playing a tune is easier if I can sing it in my head, knowing it well really helps you play it, so I try to listen to someone else playing a tune when i am learning it, till i get it into my heard.
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 01:31 PM

Sounds like you have a great support group, Lynne!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 05:05 AM

I play the recorder too (very badly). I find I can't practise for long, it makes my cheeks ache.
Do you find that to play some tunes without music you build up a picture of the finger patterns (e.g.the B of Kalfoozalum, where it jumps about)?
My recorder sits on the table too, and gets played when it shouts at me.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 06:52 AM

I should have thought you must be blowing it wrongly if it makes your cheeks ache...I've never had the problem and I can play for ages.

I think my subconscious probably builds up finger pattern pictures. If I try to play something consciously I go wrong, but if I leave it up to what my mind and fingers have learnt, it plays itself. I know that my fingers will go to the next correct note even when, if I try to think what the next note is, I can't.

I always reckon that I don't actually play the recorder, I'm just the channel and the instrument or the music plays itself. Jonny Dyer was very sceptical when i suggested that!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Mo the caller
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 07:30 AM

Yes some music just flows out (in private anyway), but the hard bits I remember as finger patterns rather than dots or abc.
I probably am doing it wrong, it's the high notes that make me ache.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 12:02 PM

What a nice thread! I recently moved from a large home to a tiny apartment where space is at a premium but I'm sitting here determined to find enough wall space to hang up my guitar so it's ready to hand. The problem is that an empty case takes as much room as a filled one- and I already have a space for the case.

I moved here about 6 weeks ago and I'm not practicing or playing at all when I'm alone- gotta change that. Thanks for the inspiration, folks.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: GUEST,Scott in Seattle...
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 01:08 PM

i try to make sure i play my guitar daily..at least an hour or two. i have to remind myself to slow down (to make sure i don't practice mistakes.) i mostly fingerpick, and my guitar skills are coming together. i'm an intermediate guitarist working my way to advanced. i use the guitar to accompany my folk songs. i now have to make myself practice my voice scales daily (even though i sing each day.) vocal exercising is important too. i wish i vocalized as much as i practice guitar. i'll have to work on that.

i love music so much and hope to sing/play fulltime one day to earn a living.

p.s.keep believing, practicing and don't give up!

Scott

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 02:27 PM

Unfortunately, I can't play to accompany my singing! Unless I play by ear.....:-)

Everyone's comments and input are keeping me inspired too...I've also started reading a book we have.."The AB guide to music theory" It's wonderfully basic and I'm finding it very useful to learn about all the things most people learn in their very early days of music lessons. Ted's started reading it too, so at the moment it's on our bathroom floor where we can read a little bit every time we're sitting on the loo!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 02:32 PM

I've found a spot! Cleared some floor space by moving some boxes to a shelf so I could put my instrument stand on the floor.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 02:34 PM

Well done Ebbie! I hope you stopped and played it for a while once you'd done that!

I think keeping your instrument where you often see it is very useful for making you remember to practise (or just to play)

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Stringsinger
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 02:37 PM

Lynne,

Before you begin to practice, ask yourself practice what and why?

Many people spend meaningless hours practicing the wrong things.

The only reason to know scales is that they are the ABCs of music theory. Or they may help to attain virtuosity if you want to be a virtuoso like Charlie Parker. For someone who just wants to play and sing songs, they might be useless. I know so many good singers and pickers who don't know scales and it doesn't hurt their singing and playing one bit.

The "authoritarian" approach to music which has been touted by certain types of rigid personalities who favor a so-called "classical" approach to learning music doesn't free you up enough. It's counter-productive to the creative process.

OTOH, knowing scales is about knowing what they mean. In and of themselves, they mean nothing. But if you look at them as a stepping-stone to knowledge about the written "ideas" of music, then they might make some sense. Their knowledge can help you sight-sing music or sight-read but their value is only if you can use this information to internalize your music. A good exercise would be for musicianship to sing through the scales of #'s and b's both major and minor. It would open up your ears. Then you could learn how to transpose melodies and chords of songs quickly. If you were a vocalist, you could find the proper key for our song.

When you perform, however, it's advisable to throw away everything you "know" about music and just express yourself. As soon as you start concentrating on the mechanics of music, you are not focussed on the performance which is about conveying the feeling and meaning of the material.


Practicing and performing are different activities.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 03:08 PM

True enough, Frank. But, of course, it's the time spent in the "woodshed" getting the mechanics down pat that makes it possible to forget about the mechanics and just concentrate on the music when you're on stage.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: GUEST,Scott in Seattle...
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 03:42 PM

this is a great thread!!!!

hi Lynne,

i don't read music or read Tab at this point. still, i can accompany myself just fine on the guitar. many others can do the same. i play in the keys of C, A, G, E and D. i can play in the different keys and figure out which key better suits my voice for the song i'm singing. it's *not* hard to do :) some people choose to play in two or so keys and let their capo do the rest...which is fine too. if someone really wants to achieve their musical goals, they will find a way. their are others in our communities who can at least give us a free lesson and/or tips to guide us in the right direction. songbooks with the chords above the music also make it possible to make music easily without knowing how to read music (especially when you already know the song). if the key is too low or too high for your voice, use a capo or change the key (without using a capo) to another key that better suits your voice.

i hope this all makes sense. my point is, it is not hard to make music if you are willing to put in the work. i've never had a guitar lesson (couldn't afford them, but, i didn't let that stop me). by using Mudcat's forum of "guitar Q & A", chord books, practicing my chord changes daily, playing along to my folk albums, etc., led me to my goal of learning to play the guitar. after i learn the guitar really well, i'll teach myself the autoharp! i'm looking forward to it! i'm now teaching myself music theory (i found a guitar book in a used bookstore that explains theory in a simple way. it's called "How To Play Guitar" by Roger Evans. the information and help is out there when we seek it. please don't be shy about asking for help. there were times when i wanted to give up, but, the desire to learn guitar to accompany my singing, burned deep within me.

believe in yourself, work smart, keep at it even when you feel like giving up, and one day you will surprise yourself in a good way!

peace and love,
Scott

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Maryrrf
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 04:21 PM

I try to practice for an hour or so a day. After years of basic chords and fingerpicking, I'm determined to get to the point to where I can easily pick out melodies to songs. After a lot of effort I'm starting to see results. Sometimes I cheat and practice while watching TV.

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 04:23 PM

I think I'm quite glad that I learnt to play the way I did, because I'm kind of free to do it how it wants to be done, but I'm at a stage now where I think I need to know more about the mechanics of the whole thing. I don't feel as though I'll progress properly from this point unless I start doing and understanding things like scales and such.

I understand what you're saying Scott and Frank, but I think a bit of shape and discipline now will do me more harm than good.....and I'm still enjoying the whole process so it must be good!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: GUEST,Scott in Seattle...
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 04:46 PM

Lynne,

sounds like you're headed in the right direction. we all have our own path after all. let us know how things work out for you :) speaking of scales, i'm going to get a pal to show me how to perform scales and bass runs.

peace,
Scott

Subject: RE: Music practice
From: Sparkly_Sheep
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 05:12 PM

I usually have an idea of what piece(s) I want to improve before I start. I start by playing some random tunes before getting onto the piece I want to work on. I am bad really and dont always practise like I should - but I think as long as you play something you enjoy then thats more important (or maybe im just making excuses!)