I found this free ebook on Amazon with some great ideas to motivate kids to practice the piano:
http://www.amazon.com/101-Piano-Practice-Tips-Keyboard-ebook/dp/B00H7LDXJK/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437528007&sr=1-4&keywords=piano+practice
Showing posts with label Practice Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Practice Tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Practicing Tips
Some of my piano students consistently practice every day; others don't.
Here are a few practicing tips:
1. Perhaps the most important hint of all is to be consistent. Set a certain time that you will be practice. Set how long you will practice. It's much better to practice 30 minutes a day than to practice 2 hours one day and none for the rest of the week.
2. Do some relaxing exercises before you begin practice. Take some deep breaths. Wiggle your fingers. Rotate your shoulders. Clear your mind of the concerns of the day.
3. Have a positive attitude.
4. Set some simple goals of what you will accomplish for that practice session.
5. Always do some warm-up exercises--scales, Hanon, chord progressions, etc.
6. Attack the difficult passages of the piece. Work out tricky fingering, rhythm, note patterns, etc. separate hands. Then put them together. Mark with a pencil those areas that need help.
7. If you are making mistakes, slow down!
8. Counting out loud and using the metronome are good ways of improving your rhythm.
9. Using good posture and hand position not only improves your technique but also helps you not to get so tired.
10. Jot down questions you have for your piano teacher; otherwise, you're likely to forget them.
11. End your practice session with a piece that you've mastered and that you love playing.
Here are a few practicing tips:
1. Perhaps the most important hint of all is to be consistent. Set a certain time that you will be practice. Set how long you will practice. It's much better to practice 30 minutes a day than to practice 2 hours one day and none for the rest of the week.
2. Do some relaxing exercises before you begin practice. Take some deep breaths. Wiggle your fingers. Rotate your shoulders. Clear your mind of the concerns of the day.
3. Have a positive attitude.
4. Set some simple goals of what you will accomplish for that practice session.
5. Always do some warm-up exercises--scales, Hanon, chord progressions, etc.
6. Attack the difficult passages of the piece. Work out tricky fingering, rhythm, note patterns, etc. separate hands. Then put them together. Mark with a pencil those areas that need help.
7. If you are making mistakes, slow down!
8. Counting out loud and using the metronome are good ways of improving your rhythm.
9. Using good posture and hand position not only improves your technique but also helps you not to get so tired.
10. Jot down questions you have for your piano teacher; otherwise, you're likely to forget them.
11. End your practice session with a piece that you've mastered and that you love playing.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Memorize at the Same Time You Learn a Piece
I'm studying a most interesting article entitled "Fundamentals of Piano Practice" by Chuan C. Chang. Many innovative suggestions are offered, some of which I'll have to ponder before I would incorporate or recommend, but I did find this quotation of interest and value:
"Once students develop memorizing-learning routines that are comfortable for them, most of them will find that learning and memorizing together takes less time than learning alone, for difficult passages. This happens because you eliminate the process of looking at the music, interpreting it, and passing the instructions from the eyes to the brain and then to the hands."
There's the pdf version to download: http://www.pianopractice.org/book.pdf.
"Once students develop memorizing-learning routines that are comfortable for them, most of them will find that learning and memorizing together takes less time than learning alone, for difficult passages. This happens because you eliminate the process of looking at the music, interpreting it, and passing the instructions from the eyes to the brain and then to the hands."
There's the pdf version to download: http://www.pianopractice.org/book.pdf.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Sight Reading Factory
https://sightreadingfactory.com/
I just discovered this cool little site. You can type in the instrument, the level of difficulty, the key, and one or two other things, and--presto!--a little sight reading piece is created! I recommend that piano students sight read every day, and this is a great way to accomplish this.
I just discovered this cool little site. You can type in the instrument, the level of difficulty, the key, and one or two other things, and--presto!--a little sight reading piece is created! I recommend that piano students sight read every day, and this is a great way to accomplish this.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Practicing Segments
Learning a piece of music one segment at a time is a good idea, but always include the beginning of the next segment. It helps to link the segments together.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Hands Separate Practicing
For beginning students especially practicing hands separately is important. Taking a short phrase and mastering each hand separately not develops fingers/hands/arms technique and agility, it also brings a sense of accomplishment.
Even more experienced pianists would do well to practice tricky passages with separate hands until each hand is mastered.
Even more experienced pianists would do well to practice tricky passages with separate hands until each hand is mastered.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Musical Expression
One aspect of playing the piano that doesn't seem to come naturally to many beginning pianists is musical expression---making the music come to life. Playing the piano is so much more that playing a series of notes in a certain rhythm. It's even more than throwing in a few dynamics and some pedaling. The pianist must discover the essence of the piece of music and express the emotion of the music. The pianist is then not just playing the piano but creating music. It's a mental thing. It's a heart and soul thing.
In this article by Lauren Thomsen, six hints are given for developing musical expression:
1. Immerse yourself in the music. Understand the explore the subtle nuances of the music.
2. Imitate. After playing a piece, sing the notes and rhythm of the music, as you remember it.
3. Move your body. If you let the music move you, the music will eventually move through you.
4. Musical walking. Take a step back and view yourself playing the piece--air piano, if you will.
5. Read along. Listen to the piece being played and follow along with the score.
6. Match inner and outer. Take time to play the music internally first, then apply that feeling and passion when you actually play the piece.
http://www.allthingsstrings.com/layout/set/print/How-To/Study-Practice/6-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Musical-Expression-in-a-Performance
Creating music, using musical expression, is so much more enjoyable. No longer is the music flat and uninteresting. Now it lives and flourishes!
In this article by Lauren Thomsen, six hints are given for developing musical expression:
1. Immerse yourself in the music. Understand the explore the subtle nuances of the music.
2. Imitate. After playing a piece, sing the notes and rhythm of the music, as you remember it.
3. Move your body. If you let the music move you, the music will eventually move through you.
4. Musical walking. Take a step back and view yourself playing the piece--air piano, if you will.
5. Read along. Listen to the piece being played and follow along with the score.
6. Match inner and outer. Take time to play the music internally first, then apply that feeling and passion when you actually play the piece.
http://www.allthingsstrings.com/layout/set/print/How-To/Study-Practice/6-Ways-to-Improve-Your-Musical-Expression-in-a-Performance
Creating music, using musical expression, is so much more enjoyable. No longer is the music flat and uninteresting. Now it lives and flourishes!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Using a Metronome to Practice Links
First, keep shoulders and arms as relaxed as possible when practicing. Don't tighten up. Rhythm should be steady and even. Start with a slow tempo and gradually increase the tempo.
Divide your piece into "links," like chain links, either 1-, 2-, and/or 4-beats or 1-, 2-, and/or 4-measures. Divide 16th notes into beats; divide quarter and eighth notes into measures.
Start with short links and master the rhythm and notes for each link. Using a metronome will help you keep the rhythm steady.
Play the link from the first note through the first note of the next link. In this way, you are linking the them. Repeat over and over, using the metronome set at a slow tempo, until that link is mastered.
Keeping the slow tempo, expand the link, from 1-beat to 2-beats or from 2-beat links to 4-beat links, and so on.
Divide your piece into "links," like chain links, either 1-, 2-, and/or 4-beats or 1-, 2-, and/or 4-measures. Divide 16th notes into beats; divide quarter and eighth notes into measures.
Start with short links and master the rhythm and notes for each link. Using a metronome will help you keep the rhythm steady.
Play the link from the first note through the first note of the next link. In this way, you are linking the them. Repeat over and over, using the metronome set at a slow tempo, until that link is mastered.
Keeping the slow tempo, expand the link, from 1-beat to 2-beats or from 2-beat links to 4-beat links, and so on.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
How to Practice with a Metronome
Here are some simple guidelines in practicing with a metronome:
1. Practice one phrase at a time.
2. Start with a slow tempo.
3. At first, practice playing hands separately.
4. Once you've mastered separate hands, play phrase with both hands.
5. Once you can play the phrase well at the slow speed, gradually increase tempo a notch or two at a time.
6. Repeat process.
7. Always keep the rhythm and notes even and steady.
8. Relax shoulders and arms when you play.
9. Work on individual phrases, slow to fast tempo, and then begin practicing them together in the same slow-to-fast routine.
1. Practice one phrase at a time.
2. Start with a slow tempo.
3. At first, practice playing hands separately.
4. Once you've mastered separate hands, play phrase with both hands.
5. Once you can play the phrase well at the slow speed, gradually increase tempo a notch or two at a time.
6. Repeat process.
7. Always keep the rhythm and notes even and steady.
8. Relax shoulders and arms when you play.
9. Work on individual phrases, slow to fast tempo, and then begin practicing them together in the same slow-to-fast routine.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Video #20 How to Handle Large Leaps in Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI7uabNseUc&list=PL499BBD56D503F986
Robert Estrin addresses the situation of large leaps in a piece of music. The way to practice these large leaps, he says, is to stop just before the note after the leap. Study your hand. Make sure you're right over the right note.
Do that again and again, making sure that you are consistently over the correct key.
Once you're used to being over the right key, still pause before playing the note. Gradually shorten the pause between that interval.
You'll never get rid of that pause in your mind even though rhythmically it may be gone.
Eventually you'll get so relaxed, says Estrin, that you won' stop at all. It becomes a fluid motion. That's the objective.
Robert Estrin addresses the situation of large leaps in a piece of music. The way to practice these large leaps, he says, is to stop just before the note after the leap. Study your hand. Make sure you're right over the right note.
Do that again and again, making sure that you are consistently over the correct key.
Once you're used to being over the right key, still pause before playing the note. Gradually shorten the pause between that interval.
You'll never get rid of that pause in your mind even though rhythmically it may be gone.
Eventually you'll get so relaxed, says Estrin, that you won' stop at all. It becomes a fluid motion. That's the objective.
Video #19 More Sight Reading Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7NaCC3KCDM
Robert Estrin gives sight reading tips.
1. Incorporate sight reading into your daily piano practice.
2. Playing with other musicians add in the objective of not correcting mistakes--to keep on going.
Robert Estrin gives sight reading tips.
1. Incorporate sight reading into your daily piano practice.
2. Playing with other musicians add in the objective of not correcting mistakes--to keep on going.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Video #14 How to Play Trills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4nN-Bc9YA&list=PL_KsX1f0Qm3CxJ1I1LxU-0DD-P6A9AMWd&index=6
A wonderful Robert Estrin video on how to play trills. Here are some of his hints:
1. Minimal arm weight. Fingers kind of float above the keys with hardly any weight.
2. Fingers held very close to the keys. Rounded.
3. Not just a bunch of notes--treat a trill as any other passage of notes and must be measured.
4. Start by slowly playing the passage of notes that make up the trill.
5. Once you've mastered the trill slowly, increase speed one notch at a time on the metronome.
6. How fast to play the trill? Play a series of just the upper note (or the bottom). Then add other notes.
7. What note does a trill start on? You usually start on the next note on the scale above the written note of that key.
8. One of the hardest parts of a trill is ending it. Play the trill to the end of the trill and stop. Wait. Then add the ending that you've practiced and mastered. Gradually make that wait a little shorter. Eventually the wait will only be in your head.
9. Metronomes are crucial in working with any fast passaged, including trills.
A wonderful Robert Estrin video on how to play trills. Here are some of his hints:
1. Minimal arm weight. Fingers kind of float above the keys with hardly any weight.
2. Fingers held very close to the keys. Rounded.
3. Not just a bunch of notes--treat a trill as any other passage of notes and must be measured.
4. Start by slowly playing the passage of notes that make up the trill.
5. Once you've mastered the trill slowly, increase speed one notch at a time on the metronome.
6. How fast to play the trill? Play a series of just the upper note (or the bottom). Then add other notes.
7. What note does a trill start on? You usually start on the next note on the scale above the written note of that key.
8. One of the hardest parts of a trill is ending it. Play the trill to the end of the trill and stop. Wait. Then add the ending that you've practiced and mastered. Gradually make that wait a little shorter. Eventually the wait will only be in your head.
9. Metronomes are crucial in working with any fast passaged, including trills.
Video #13 Why Sight Reading is Important
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko9D8TdFNVg&index=3&list=PL_KsX1f0Qm3CxJ1I1LxU-0DD-P6A9AMWd
This Robert Estrin video addresses why learning to sight read is important. Here are some main reasons:
1. Sight reading will expand the amount of music that you will be able to play. There is a limited number of pieces that you master and you want to be capable of playing many more.
2. It's essential for playing with other musicians--you must listen to each other and keep moving ahead even if you make a mistake.
3. It helps to maximize the effectiveness of your practice because it allows you to zero in on the trouble areas. You will then know what parts to practice more.
This Robert Estrin video addresses why learning to sight read is important. Here are some main reasons:
1. Sight reading will expand the amount of music that you will be able to play. There is a limited number of pieces that you master and you want to be capable of playing many more.
2. It's essential for playing with other musicians--you must listen to each other and keep moving ahead even if you make a mistake.
3. It helps to maximize the effectiveness of your practice because it allows you to zero in on the trouble areas. You will then know what parts to practice more.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Video #11 How to Play Repeated Notes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtlCldRtokk&list=PL7ir4ALMvepUxQhFEdXtk6vEg7-5thFXE
A great video on playing repeated notes.
Here are some tips:
1. Using the 3-2-1 fingering!.
2. Play lightly.
3. Play close to the keys.
4. Practice clean release of notes.
5. Practice slowly and use metronome, increasing speed one notch at a time.
6. Practice sectionally, then group notes together.
A great video on playing repeated notes.
Here are some tips:
1. Using the 3-2-1 fingering!.
2. Play lightly.
3. Play close to the keys.
4. Practice clean release of notes.
5. Practice slowly and use metronome, increasing speed one notch at a time.
6. Practice sectionally, then group notes together.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Video #8: How to Prevent Injury Playing an Instrument
A great Robert Estrin YouTube video!
Main things to think about:
1. Think holistically. Yoga. Walks. Exercises. Eating healthy.
2. Height of bench is absolutely critical. Arms/wrists should be straight.
3. Don't sit too close to a piano.
4. Proper posture!
5. Take time to adjust the bench, even at a performance.
6. Take frequent breaks in your practice, walking around, stretching arms.
7. Varying the music and practice techniques. Keep it changed up--it'll make a more effective practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMEj-IZ4-Yk
Main things to think about:
1. Think holistically. Yoga. Walks. Exercises. Eating healthy.
2. Height of bench is absolutely critical. Arms/wrists should be straight.
3. Don't sit too close to a piano.
4. Proper posture!
5. Take time to adjust the bench, even at a performance.
6. Take frequent breaks in your practice, walking around, stretching arms.
7. Varying the music and practice techniques. Keep it changed up--it'll make a more effective practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMEj-IZ4-Yk
Video #7: Hand Position and Finger Technique--That's What it's All About
Wow. I am so impressed with Robert Estrin's YouTube videos on piano technique.
This particular video points out that hand position and finger technique is what it's all about. The one point he makes that is especially important is when maneuvering through a piece with different hand positions, you must instantly place your hand in the new position on the first note of the new passage. For example, you cross under your thumb then INSTANTLY put your hand in the new position.
He says that's critical to learning to playing difficult passages. It's all about hand position and finger technique. When practicing a piece, play one phrase at a time until you have it down. Then practice that phrase with the first note of the next phrase (in the new hand position).
That may be as clear as mud but watch this video because it is really excellent. Wonderful practice ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6nqqLQslI
This particular video points out that hand position and finger technique is what it's all about. The one point he makes that is especially important is when maneuvering through a piece with different hand positions, you must instantly place your hand in the new position on the first note of the new passage. For example, you cross under your thumb then INSTANTLY put your hand in the new position.
He says that's critical to learning to playing difficult passages. It's all about hand position and finger technique. When practicing a piece, play one phrase at a time until you have it down. Then practice that phrase with the first note of the next phrase (in the new hand position).
That may be as clear as mud but watch this video because it is really excellent. Wonderful practice ideas!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6nqqLQslI
Video #4: Brilliant Fingerwork--Practice Scales Slowly and Raised Fingers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KdWG-zIFY4&index=4&list=RDO6AAkGBc0eg
Another great YouTube video by Robert Estrin on how to develop techniques to get the brilliant fast finger work. The secret he discusses in this video is to practice scales SLOWLY and with RAISED FINGERS.
Another great YouTube video by Robert Estrin on how to develop techniques to get the brilliant fast finger work. The secret he discusses in this video is to practice scales SLOWLY and with RAISED FINGERS.
Video #3: How to Practice the Piano--Memorization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeDEI0dGW_w&list=RDO6AAkGBc0eg&index=3
A great YouTube video by living pianos.com on memorization techniques.
A great YouTube video by living pianos.com on memorization techniques.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Drills and Exercises
When a piano student is assigned a simple drill or exercise, she may be tempted to play it through quickly a couple of times and call it good since it looks so simple. Here's a better way to practice drills and exercises:
1. Practice them slowly and precisely.
2. Make sure to have good hand position--keep those fingers curved and try not to let that pinkie fly into the air.
3. Practice for perfection.
4. Use correct fingering.
Practicing drills and exercises effectively can help improve technique and control.
1. Practice them slowly and precisely.
2. Make sure to have good hand position--keep those fingers curved and try not to let that pinkie fly into the air.
3. Practice for perfection.
4. Use correct fingering.
Practicing drills and exercises effectively can help improve technique and control.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Somebody smart said...
Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)