Practicing: Part One
Why the Negativity About Practice Time?!
As a musician, you know the importance of practicing. You’ve probably heard “practice makes perfect” or “practice makes progress” at least once in your life.
But, let’s go back to when you first decided to embark your journey as a musician. Typically, you start your musical training at a young age - while you are still in elementary school (depending on the instrument/voice etc…)
There was always mention of the importance of practicing, but did any instructor and or teacher show you the benefits of what personal practice time teaches you?
I recently had a high school trombone student tell me that when he was just beginning his studies, he felt like the teacher put a negative emphasis on practicing. He added that his teacher made it sound like practicing was punishment.
After hearing this, I immediately was frustrated and I wondered:
Are music teachers/instructors actually demonstrating to their students how to practice?
Are they showing their students what to focus on and what you can personally learn from practice time?
Are they taking the time to show their students how to practice rhythm with and without their instrument/voice?
Do they show them how to study their music scores?
DO THESE TEACHERS/INSTRUCTORS EVEN PRACTICE THEMSELVES?!
Or are they just saying: “Go home and practice” and then reward their students with stickers and toy trinkets next lesson if they complete at least twenty minutes of practice time in a week.
I feel that if you are a music teacher and or instructor, you have a responsibility to show your students the importance of practicing. If you do not know how to teach this - you should not even be calling yourself a music teacher and or instructor.
Folks, let me just tell you:
Practicing is YOUR time to learn music. It’s just you and your music - I cannot tell you how thrilling that time is.
You are going to make a shit ton of mistakes when you practice. You’re going to crack/squawk that high note during practice time. And yes - you’ll have to practice that measure under tempo until you get that tricky rhythm correct. Hell, you may spend ten minutes on just two measures and that is okay!
Whenever I am learning a new aria - I love seeing the progress I make from the first day, to the fifth day.
Goals and practice times are up to you. I strive to practice daily. I have two types of practice: Score/language study and actual practice time. Time duration varies and you should never push yourself if your body is tired.
Some music and or compositions are going to be easier to learn than others. Whatever you do, don’t stop and give up. It’s corny, but it’s true:
Practice Makes Progress.
Look for Practicing: Part Two in the weeks ahead!