Lesson Plans
How to Practice: A Summary
by Javier Arau © 2001
- 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.