We all know that practice makes perfect. Therefore, it is important to learn the right way to practice. By incorporating the right habits, you can make your practice sessions more efficient, and thus improve more quickly. In this article, I will be introducing my article series, Making The Most of Your Practice. This series of articles will help you set realistic goals, overcome your weaknesses, and develop your musicianship so that you can become a better player.
Why should you practice your instrument?
Before we look into the right ways to practice, we need to understand why practice is important. When you practice, you are critical about your playing. You are actively trying to listen out for mistakes, which you will then have to rectify.
Even though practicing your instrument is an arduous task, you weed out errors in the process. At the same time, you develop good playing habits and reinforce correct playing techniques. All these will help you to achieve your ultimate goal of becoming proficient at your instrument.
Practice Techniques
Practice is not just about quantity, it is also about quality. I’ve written a series of articles discussing how you can make the most out of your practices. In this section, I will be introducing the seven articles of this series, so be sure to click on the links to read more about them.
⇒ Making your practice enjoyable (Click the title for the article)
Practicing your instrument can be repetitive and tiring at times, so how do you enjoy the process? In my first article, you will discover new ways to keep your practice sessions fun so that you can stay motivated.
⇒ Setting Goals
In order to practice efficiently, you have to be clear of what you want to achieve. Setting goals will help you to decide the direction of your practice sessions. Learn how to set goals that will keep your practice sessions focused and productive.
⇒ Planning your practices
After you’ve decided on your goals, it’s time to think about how to structure your practices. In this article, I will discuss the factors that you should consider when you plan your practices, as well as the types of exercises that you should include.
⇒ The Metronome part 1
The metronome is a handy practice tool for any musician. It helps you develop a better sense of pulse and time. Read this article to learn more about the importance of using a metronome, and a practice technique — Metronome Reduction — that you can add to your practice routine.
⇒ The Metronome part 2
There are many ways to practice with the metronome. In this article, I will introduce the Metronome Displacement and Rhythm Pyramid exercises.
⇒ Make your music groove with dynamics
Practicing isn’t just about rudiments and techniques. It is also about developing a sense of musicality. This article discusses how dynamics plays an integral role in the expressiveness of a piece of music. Learn the different aspects of dynamics that you should focus on when you practice.
⇒ Make your music groove with tempo changes
In this last article, I discuss another aspect of musical expressions — Tempo. While it is important to be able to keep a steady pulse, incorporating tempo changes into your music can help to convey certain emotions.
Conclusion
Practicing the right way is key to becoming a proficient musician, so be sure to read all seven articles. After you’ve understood these seven practice methods, you should include them in your practice routine. We can all agree that it isn’t easy to practice your instrument, but as long as you practice hard and practice smart, you will definitely become a better musician.
Making the Most of your Practice
⇒ Part 1: Making Practice Enjoyable
⇒ Part 2: Setting Practice Goals
⇒ Part 3: Practice Planning
⇒ Part 4: The Metronome
⇒ Part 5: The Metronome Part 2
⇒ Part 6: Make Your Music Groove with Dynamics
⇒ Part 7: Make Your Music Groove with Tempo Changes