A lot of this seems really obvious to me, and probably to you, but sometimes it's the obvious things that get overlooked for their profound value. Perhaps you'll think of ways to adapt what I've said better to your style.. That's completely OK! I encourage individuality. Whatever works -- is my motto.
- Start with a goal. Could be technical, musical, whatever. Pick something, and don't stop until you've mastered it. Note: please choose a realistic goal for yourself! Example: set a timer for 3 minutes. Choose a goal you feel you could master within that 3-minute timeframe. Go! Did you? Yes? Great! Choose another goal. Didn't quite make it? Go another 3 minutes. Keep repeating until you get it, but next time, try for something a little simpler.
- Having trouble with measure 5 until measure 37? Just work that spot. Please don't waste time playing the entire piece if you know where you tend to flounder. As a reward for your hard work, you can play-through the piece after the practice session. We tend to focus on playing the parts we know well -- it's immensely satisfying to hear ourselves make beautiful music. Try not to play those sections exclusively, and definitely not a majority of the practice session, either.
- Make a schedule, and try to stick to it, but be flexible. If you have a deadline, make a chart outlining little mini-deadlines of what sections should be mastered by what date to make it on time for the final deadline. Some things may go easier than expected, so you may finish early. Others may be much more difficult than you imagined, so allow some breathing room.
- PRACTICE AWAY FROM THE INSTRUMENT FIRST. I find it incredible that beginning students feel they can look at a piece and start to play it right away. This is a separate skill entirely. We must first analyze the piece for its notes, rhythms, bowings, dynamics, and tempo prior to asking our bodies to execute all these elements correctly. If the brain is working very hard just to read the notes, our hands won't have enough brain power to make the music on the instrument.
- METRONOMES ARE REQUIRED! I will always practice with a metronome when I'm learning a new piece. Always and forever. You can never outgrow the use of a metronome. To err is to be human -- we can't avoid taking liberties with the tempo unknowingly. A metronome will keep you honest while you perfect rhythms and work a piece up to performance tempo.
- Perfection is elusive. A student may hear me play and think, "Wow, that was awesome!" but inside, I'm cringing at something. I always do. As we improve, so do our ears, and so do our standards. Perfection may be a goal, but not a realistic one. Be proud of progress, and focus more on that.
- Dynamics are what make or break a mature performance, don't exclude them, and try not to leave them until the end of learning a piece! Yes, they are like the icing on the cake. However, learning them in the early stages allow them to become as habitualized as everything else. I highly recommend practicing this way.
