Quick Tips

Quick Tips
23/09/2010 - 09:58 by Mike Saville

Copy in Detail

70Many musicians, especially in pop music learn by copying. If you are one of these people make sure that when you copy your favourite music that you get all the details. Don't just play the notes but try to play with the same sound, rhythm and feel as the music you hear. The more detail you can copy the better player you will become.
09/09/2010 - 08:31 by How To Practice

Fix the reason not the note

69Mistakes are made during practice. That's great as without them we wouldn't know what to improve.

When you do play a wrong note the worst you can do is to quickly correct it and move on without thinking. If you do this you will make the same kind of mistake again because you have not fixed the underlying cause of the mistake.

Instead stop a moment and think about why you made the mistake. Did you know the note? Did you stretch the right distance? Did you concentrate?

Fix the reason and that wrong note will stay permanently fixed.

02/09/2010 - 08:42 by Mike Saville

Pro-active Practice

681. Play without much thought.
2. Make a mistake.
3. React to that mistake.
4. Play again.
5. Make a different mistake.
6. React to that mistake . . . . . .

Sound familiar?

Make sure your practice is pro-active by planning what you will do beforehand and by playing slowly enough that you don't make silly mistakes.

26/08/2010 - 09:13 by Mike Saville

Rhythmic Feeling

67Being able to count a pulse or rhythm out loud is one thing. It's quite another to feel it . Make sure you really internalise rhythms by singing, tapping, clapping and most of all feeling them.
19/08/2010 - 09:08 by Mike Saville

Don't let perfect prevent progress

66In other fields it's known as analysis paralysis. In music practice it's called perfectionism. Believed by most to be a good thing it can at times be harmful. Evil

Make sure you don't get stuck on any one thing aiming for unreachable perfection. Sometimes good is good enough. Move on to something new and keep progressing.

12/08/2010 - 11:06 by Mike Saville

Beware Inattention

65If you don't pay attention during music practice mistakes can creep in.

Be sure not to compound the mistake by ignoring it. Fix it properly.

05/08/2010 - 08:08 by Mike Saville

Two Modes of Music Practice

64Be aware of the difference between playing and practice.

Playing is unthinking time with the instrument and you may not get better - you might even get worse.

Practice is where you improve. Try to spend most of the time with your instrument in practice mode.

30/07/2010 - 09:15 by Mike Saville

Don't be a fool!

63If you make a mistake, be honest. Own up - you didn't know it well enough.
Don't fool yourself with one of the following excuses:

  • That never happened before
  • I wasn't concerntrating
  • Well nobody's perfect
  • I got distracted
  • Sounds pretty good really
  • I don't know why I got nervous
22/07/2010 - 08:43 by Mike Saville

Have Patience

62
If you expect to become a superb musician overnight then I suggest you go and do something else.

Music practice can sometimes be hard and improvements difficult to see, yet have some patience and you will become a fine musician in the end.

22/06/2010 - 08:10 by Mike Saville

Remember yesterday?

61Failing to remember what you learnt in your last practice session can really hinder your progress.

Make sure to review what you covered at the end of each practice session. Also, at the start of your next session, think back to what you learned last time.