You know that practice makes perfect. But do you also know that how you practice is more important than how much you practice?
There is a dramatic difference in the approach to practice between amateur and professional musicians. Professionals, often because of time constraints, practice what they can't yet play. This is a good habit to get into, even if time is not of the essence.
Methodical practice of challenging techniques and difficult passages is the key to mastering any musical instrument. Take these tips from the pros and significantly improve your practice technique. Its part of what you do. Put the practice time into your schedule, otherwise it’s going to get by you. You've got the time, but you've got to make the time.
Start small.
Everything can be reduced to single units of measure. When negotiating a difficult passage, take it apart. Follow the order of practice ascension: mastery of single notes, then pairs of notes, then phrases, lines, sections, and then finally the entire tune from beginning to end. Learning a tune is like constructing a building. Everything is based upon a solid foundation. This is a good model for learning any new skill.
“If you play too many things at one time [while practicing], your whole approach will be vague. Play much less, but be very clear about it. It’s much better to spend 30 hours on one tune than to play thirty tunes in one hour.”
-Bill Evans
Take notes.
Try not to make the same mistakes twice. Write down where your issues and problem areas are so you can go right back to those spots and continue to work on them. Spend your time working on the areas themselves, not stumbling around trying to find them. If you're always hanging out in one place in your practice; staying within your comfort zone, your evolution is going to be difficult. If you're constantly breaking new ground, though the immediate rewards may not be apparent, improvement is inevitable.
Make a joyful noise.
Don’t practice mindlessly or halfheartedly. Try to get the best sound you can. Practicing on your own will help to give you the confidence you need to perform in front of people. Of course, there’s no substitute for actual performance experience. But it’s easy to visualize a concert hall where you are performing for a choice audience and playing your heart out! Create the illusion and eventually the illusion becomes a reality.
Take some time to practice as if you were on stage in front of a huge audience and you soon will be.
Practice what you can't play. You already know what you know.
Al Gould is a prolific Composer, Arranger, Teacher, Session Player, Engineer and Performer, who has worked in a great variety of venues in an eclectic variety of styles. In a professional career spanning 40 years, Al has been privileged to work with Stephen Stills, Tom Paxton, Tom Rush, Ben Vereen, Peter Rowan and for President Bill Clinton. He currently performs and teaches in Greater Boston, where he also composes and records in his home studio.
