How to Practice: A Summary

DECIDE which parts you play well and which parts still need work.
PRACTICE the PROBLEM SPOTS the most.
Work on ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME.
Practice smaller PHRASES, one at a time.
SLOW DOWN.
Decide on the BEAT before you start playing.
COUNT THE BEAT out loud.
Keep a STEADY BEAT. Pretend you are in a parade.
ZOOM IN and fix problem spots.
Work on CONNECTING the phrases.
Work on practicing ONE MEASURE + ONE NOTE.
When you have learned a section, REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!
TEACH your fingers! TEACH THEM WELL!
Fingers need PRACTICE, PATIENCE, and ENCOURAGEMENT.
SLOW DOWN even more.
Work on EVEN SMALLER SECTIONS.
Play with CONFIDENCE.
Practice EVERY DAY.
Always be very PATIENT.
ENJOY the music!

Practicing DON’Ts:

Don’t just play from the beginning of the song all the time.
Don’t practice the whole song all at once.
Don’t skip over the problem spots.
Don’t just practice the parts you can already play well.
Don’t pause the rhythm in between measures.
Don’t rush the rhythms.