Practice Tips
Four Sets of Tips for Music Students
Some
Suggestions for Learning New Music
Nadine
Dresskell
1. Analyse your music away from the piano. Note similar
passages, put in fingerings, notice dynamics, etc. Use a pencil to write in
fingerings.
2. Use the
same fingering patterns for all similar passages.
3. In
fingering chords and arpeggios take advantage of the spread between your thumb
and fingers. Use the fourth finger in the four-note chords with a fourth in
their centers.
4. Eliminate
all unnecessary motion. Play as many notes as possible before changing your
hand position and keep your hand position moves as short as possible.
5. Try out
your fingerings. Play each hand alone, up to tempo or faster, and see if your
fingerings work. If not, change them. Always play every note at its proper
dynamic level and with the proper articulation.
6. Play
hands together ten times slower and use your fingerings, proper dynamics and
touch.
7. Never
practice faster than you can play everything correctly. Your muscles remember
how you use them-not how you intended to use them. They do not know right from
wrong! A muscle has no conscience.
8. Work out
the difficult passages. Dowel them by practicing one or two measures before and
after the difficult ones with them.
9. Keep
relaxed at all times. When you feel tension, stop! Relax and then place hands
and arms in relaxed position (fingers curved, wrists level, arms hanging from
the shoulders) and start again.
10.
Try practicing fast
difficult passages softly at first.
Practice
Tips
Patricia
Cosand
Ten
Points for Good Practicing
Robert
Jesselson
Practice
Suggestions
©
Scott A. Anderson
1.
Have patience with
yourself as you develop new and improved skills. Slow and accurate practice
brings the best and fastest results.
2.
Understand the assigned
material presentation, purpose, and the proper approach to study. The mind
tells the fingers what to do. Be sure that your mind understands the practice
goals.
3.
Identify avoidable
practice distractions. Create the appropriate atmosphere for practice. Have all
of the materials close by.
4.
Listen to recordings and
attend concerts for inspiration. Purchase books and magazines.
5.
Review past exercises
and compositions. Technique and musical quality is both reinforced and
enhanced. The sense of accomplishment helps your self-esteem.
6.
Too much of anything can
cause problems. Too much physical practice causes fatigue and improper practice
of technique and musical expression.
7.
Enjoy making music!