A Serious Practice Question

Subject: A Serious Practice Question
From: Parson
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 11:40 PM

Let's suppose that you are trying to learn to play a new song & let's suppose also that this new song requires skills you haven't yet developed. What are some of the practice techniques or practice routines that you would use to move up to the next level?

Thanks,

Randall

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: MK
Date: 27 Sep 00 - 11:55 PM

Isolate the sections or parts that are difficult and work on them first. You can break each section down by hand position and just work on that. Endless repetition, both slowly and then gradually increasing in speed are the way to go. Works for me. Get the hardest parts dealt with first and then the rest seems like a walk in the park.

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 10:17 AM

Another thing is never playing it wrong to get by and keep going (I do that when performing, tho.), but always back up and sing or play it right, however slowly.

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 10:21 AM

The Michaels are spot on : my teacher always said to go over those difficult passages, and later practice the WHOLE PIECE only as fast as the hardest passage could be played well. Over time (and daily discipline) the tempo increases and the techniques is added to your repertoire!

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 10:32 AM

Does anyone recall the thread from this spring that addressed this in detail? To refresh it or link it?

~S~

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: Kim C
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:00 AM

Well, first I ask my teacher! :) But if Teacher isn't available at the moment, I do what was stated above: pick apart the problem area and go over it slowly (and over, and over and over and over and over and so on and so forth etc.), then try to put it in context playing the whole piece under tempo. With fiddle playing I have found (thanks to Teacher) that there are very subtle ways of adjusting hand position, fingers, etc., that can make a HUGE difference in being able to play or not play a particular passage. I'm sure it's the same with other instruments as well.

I do the same thing with singing, although I'm on my own there!

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:29 AM

My little bit here is to remember to practice connecting the parts that you can do and the parts that you have to practice, otherwise (and I can say this from sad experience) your piece can fall apart at the seam--

Also, Howard Roberts said that you have to play something through smoothly twelve or thirteen times before you really have it learned. Through in an extra one if you are superstitious.

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: Parson
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:20 PM

Thanks to all you who responded to my question. Sorry, I haven't been able to post this earlier. I have been out of town for a few days with no access to the Internet. I will put your suggestions into practice.

Thanks,

Randall

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:07 PM

Get so you can sing it without any kind of accompaniment -then see what might be helpful when played along with the singing.

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:28 PM

You can use the above posts for excellent results.

Another method is to simply play what you can, and get comfotable with the more difficult parts by starting with the parts you understand, and taking on the tough stuff step by step, never going past your own abilities... Like,... cords and a few notes, a few more notes, a position change, a different chord that fits better, and then the final notes you couldn't get...
the key this technique is to catch what you can, and work the rest in when it comes, and knowing that it will come! Layers of complexity that we peel back... Also, if you improve your technique in the LISTENING, your playing will respond dramatically, assuming of course, that you let yourself be as good as you are!!! ttr

Subject: RE: A Serious Practice Question
From: Bert
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:34 PM

Spoken like a true singer McGrath. If you can 'really' sing it then A, E7 & D is all else you need.