Practice techniques are important strategies to have in your musical “toolbox” when you come across a challenging spot while practicing. Generally, these strategies can help to narrow your focus on a specific issue or give your brain a little extra time to think about what exactly needs to happen for successful execution.
Here are four strategies to try:
- If you’ve come across a section that is giving you trouble, it’s best to avoid starting an entire phrase over and hoping for the best. Identify the spot that is giving you the most trouble and use a practice technique to break it down into small, manageable bits. You’ll find that practice is a lot more efficient this way!
- Adding a rest between a shift, chord change, or a string crossing gives you time to form the shape you need without being rushed. I like to start with a half rest, then go to a quarter rest.
- When you’re trying to reach a tempo that is too fast to handle right now practice the piece at a much slower tempo that you can achieve 100% accuracy. After you’ve become more comfortable with the slower tempo increase by 4-8 BPMs. Continue the process of adding speed in small increments as you master each tempo. There should be no hurry to play fast, and sloppy. You will play much better fast, by building your speed slowly.
- It is effective to practice using one hand at a time with just about every stringed instrument including the piano. For violin and guitar strumming, picking, or bowing the rhythm without your fretting hand focuses directly on the rhythm, and the up or down bows/strums.
Written by Brian Slaymaker and Amanda Goodwin
Edited by Regina Schneider