RESOURCES & LINKS: Practicing & Sight Reading Tips
I am often asked for practice tips, or ways to make practicing easier.
First, I am not a believer in the phrase "Practice Makes Perfect." There is no such thing as perfect. The difference between a professional and beginning musician is how quickly they adapt to mistakes and fix them. Every musician makes mistakes, and that human element is what makes music beautiful. I encourage my students to strive for the ability to identify and fix their mistakes, not to be "perfect."
I also recognize that our lives are busy and scheduled. I ask my students to practice at least 3 days a week, for about 20-30 minutes at a time. The time of day makes no difference, as long as the instrument is being practiced consistently. As a young cellist, I found I was more focused in the morning and would often practice before school.
Practicing can also happen without the instrument! 100% mental practice should never take the place of physical practice, but it can enhance and make your practice sessions easier. Take time to clap out the rhythms, practice saying the note names in order, and air bow the music. These are all things that you will learn to do in your weekly lesson.
What do I do during my practice time?
1. Warm-up. Begin with finger exercises that are scale centered.
2. Problem solve. Practice the exercises assigned for homework in your Essential Elements lesson book. Start with the hardest pieces first and finish with a song you know well or have memorized! Use slow, careful practice to eliminate mistakes.
3. Personalize. Add dynamics, increase tempo, go beyond the notes. Remember, you are making music.
4. Variety. Switch the order. Try something by memory.
5. Fun finish. End with a favorite song.
What is Sight-Reading?
Sight Reading is the ability to play a piece of music without ever practicing or playing it first. When practicing, use the Sight-Reading Checklist (below) to start, and then go back and fix your mistakes. When I use these steps, I can quickly identify my "hot spots" to practice. This way I don't want my time practicing music that I already know how to play.
Sight-Reading Checklist
Please use the following tips (in this order!) to help you figure out how to read a new piece of music.
First, I am not a believer in the phrase "Practice Makes Perfect." There is no such thing as perfect. The difference between a professional and beginning musician is how quickly they adapt to mistakes and fix them. Every musician makes mistakes, and that human element is what makes music beautiful. I encourage my students to strive for the ability to identify and fix their mistakes, not to be "perfect."
I also recognize that our lives are busy and scheduled. I ask my students to practice at least 3 days a week, for about 20-30 minutes at a time. The time of day makes no difference, as long as the instrument is being practiced consistently. As a young cellist, I found I was more focused in the morning and would often practice before school.
Practicing can also happen without the instrument! 100% mental practice should never take the place of physical practice, but it can enhance and make your practice sessions easier. Take time to clap out the rhythms, practice saying the note names in order, and air bow the music. These are all things that you will learn to do in your weekly lesson.
What do I do during my practice time?
1. Warm-up. Begin with finger exercises that are scale centered.
2. Problem solve. Practice the exercises assigned for homework in your Essential Elements lesson book. Start with the hardest pieces first and finish with a song you know well or have memorized! Use slow, careful practice to eliminate mistakes.
3. Personalize. Add dynamics, increase tempo, go beyond the notes. Remember, you are making music.
4. Variety. Switch the order. Try something by memory.
5. Fun finish. End with a favorite song.
What is Sight-Reading?
Sight Reading is the ability to play a piece of music without ever practicing or playing it first. When practicing, use the Sight-Reading Checklist (below) to start, and then go back and fix your mistakes. When I use these steps, I can quickly identify my "hot spots" to practice. This way I don't want my time practicing music that I already know how to play.
Sight-Reading Checklist
Please use the following tips (in this order!) to help you figure out how to read a new piece of music.
- DO NOT start playing. Put down your instrument.
- First check out the KEY SIGNATURE - how many sharps or flats are there? What key are you in?
- Check out the TIME SIGNATURE - how many beats per measure?
- If the piece is longer than 8 measures, visually break it down into smaller pieces. Begin working with the first section (about 8 measures).
- Figure out the:
- RHYTHM of the piece - tap and count out loud (using counting numbers)
- RHYTHM of the right hand (bowing) - air bow
- Beware of rests! They are not evil - you just need to observe them - Figure out the NOTE NAMES - say them out loud, while tapping the rhythm on your knee.
- AIR BOW and say the NOTE NAMES at the same time.
- Go back and figure out anything that gives you trouble.
- Now pick up your instrument, and play it.
- Go back and figure out anything that gives you trouble.
- Repeat all the steps for the next section.
- Put all the smaller sections together into one larger piece.