THE WHY, HOW, AND WHAT OF PRACTICE…

A PERSONAL PRESCRIPTION.

If you have ever thought about the amount of time spent with your instrument each day perhaps you have not considered why, in many cases, you feel as though very little has been accomplished. Becoming FRUSTRATED is one of the worst disorders a performer might face, and some are afflicted for life. Frustration accomplishes nothing. GOOD HABITS should be formed early, for they are the foundation for a strong productive practice routine, one which will remain with you for your entire playing career.

LEARN FROM OTHERS AND TEACH YOURSELF.

One taking a private or class lesson assimilates information and technique, but that is only the first step. TEACHING YOURSELF is the next and not the least important of these steps. To SUCCEED, one must listen carefully - with a certain amount of humility – to others (others could be defined as TEACHER), being aware that after the problems are isolated and the goals are defined, only YOU stand between the current lesson and the next.

Many assume LONG HOURS OF PRACTICE are the answer to and cure for all performance difficulties. Consequently:

A.    Without a PRACTICE-PURPOSE, time spent  will end in absolute failure. This  means COMPLETE  attention during the lesson, and that same concentration for  the task at hand when you practice.

B. AIMLESS practice without a purpose despite the help of a

    GOOD TEACHER, followed by LITTLE OR NO PRACTICE

     will yield even more disastrous results.

C.    GOOD TEACHING followed by well organized and thoughtful

PRACTICE is the only road to success.

REMEMBER: “You get out of it what you put into it”. DISORGANIZED PRACTICE can only result in absolute failure in attaining your goal(s).

WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE GOALS?

 Don’t continue to REPEAT passages over and over making the same mistakes at ANY tempo.

                    A.    SlOW DOWN.

B.    Consider WHAT the problem is and WHY it is difficult for you.

C.  WHAT must your approach be to correct the  problem? 

D.    PRACTICE the correct SOLUTION.

WHEN DO I PRACTICE?

TIRED PRACTICE is sometimes more detrimental to success than NO PRACTICE at all. Practice at the same time each day (if possible), but practice when your mind is at ease to comprehend the work at hand. Here are a few suggestions:

A.    Good atmosphere without disturbance.

B.    Use the same practice room regularly. One becomes accustomed

to the same surroundings; we feel a certain comfort and ‘homeyness’ using the same practice room, don’t upset that balance.

C.    Stop practicing when your mind becomes tired. We do become

PRACTICE-SATURATED after a time, so one must rest or stop altogether. Continuing to work when tired will cause error, error will cause frustration, and frustration never makes for improvement.

D.   Do breathing exercises before practice. Good diaphragmatic

breathing makes the body and mind relax. Tense muscles make  rigid and heavy finger action, and would tend to cause bad playing habits.

WHY PRACTICE ?

OBVIOUSLY TO GET BETTER, NATURALLY!

In order to succeed, to become a better player, one must have a firmly established ‘game plan’ in mind. That ‘game plan’ should have a goal. To become a good player, to make steady improvements, it is vital to have reasons for all the above suggestions. Turn those reasons into rational adjustments in the approach to practice. THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.

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