Practicing 101: For the Beginner
How to Practice? Why correct practicing matters.
"I got it right in the lesson. I don't need to practice." Think again.
The job of music parent is not easy, and there are a number of books written about it. In particular, I would recommend the following:
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The Music Parents' Guide: A Survival Kit for the New Music Parent
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The Music Parents' Survival Guide: A Parent-to-Parent Conversation
Many times, parents aren't sure what effective practice strategies look and sound like. You know they are supposed to get out the instrument and play it, but what exactly should they be doing? Much of our lesson time is has been spent on teaching "practice strategies" - so this is a particularly good time to share those with you as well. These same strategies work for more advanced students whenever they encounter a piece of music that does not come easily for them, as well.
Set-up and Playing Position:
Students need to make sure they have all the tools and accessories to play. Music, assignment sheet or book, shoulder pads, rosin, music stand, metronome, and anything else needs to be out to help students have a successful practice session.
All practice starts with the correct playing position. Every time a student begins to play, the set-up and playing position should be correct, to ensure bad habits do not form.
Learning a New Piece:
The easiest way to start new music as a beginning strings player is to isolate the hands.
1. Name the Notes: Point to the notes and name them.
This helps with tracking and note identification - a music literacy skill. Common note groupings eventually are identified as a pattern (i.e. scales)
2. Name and Finger the Notes: Place the correct LH fingers on the correct string as you say the names of the notes in order.
This transfers the note identification to the instrument without adding the additional coordination of plucking or bowing.
3. Pluck or Bow the rhythm on an open string: Play the rhythm without the LH fingers.
This isolates the rhythm without complicating the coordination of both hands together.
4. Pluck and Finger: Pluck and finger the notes in rhythm.
Again, this isolates the notes and rhythm before adding the bow coordination.
[5. Bow and Finger: Bow and finger the exercise - don't forget dynamics (louds and softs)! (If applicable)]
This is the final step at the beginning of learning a piece or exercise. It encompasses both left and right hand technique on the instrument, as well as decoding the notes and rhythms on the page.
The Importance of Review:
Beginning instrument studies tend to move quickly in difficulty, with a steep learning curve. Is it vital that students continue to review and play through pieces that are already mastered or close to being mastered, as the act of review keeps technique in check and reinforces the joy of playing. I always reserve the last 10% of my practice sessions to play things that I both enjoy and play well. I continue to do this as a professional, and encourage it of my students as well.