It is common to tell budding and professional musicians to practice long hours and do the required due diligence when playing an instrument. However, it is equally essential to offer some strategies to employ during our practice hours so that the time we spend in the practice room counts.
There will always be technical passages that create difficulties for a player, and you are only somewhat satisfied with the outcome of certain parts of your music. What are some ways you can improve your output on these passages?
For example, you may encounter a difficult passage in a new piece you are preparing. It might be a section that involves sixteenth notes, and you are challenged to play them evenly. And the first step to mastering these sections requires that the tempo is accurate. It is helpful to give yourself ample time to master that phrase.
First, you would have to exercise patience. Being impatient while working on different musical pieces does not help you achieve your goals. As you work your muscles to work on particular phrases, they need time and practice to adjust to the technical aspect of that piece. Therefore, you must have the patience to practice the music at a slower tempo than it needs to be. Then, you must check to see if you can play it perfectly well in the slow tempo. If you can't, you must break down the phrase into smaller parts before proceeding. That might involve playing each note separately to ensure they sound in tune and that you are familiar with all of them. When players become impatient, they might want to play the piece in tempo immediately to see if they can do the part right. However, it is best to allow oneself to work on that part for at least a week and then check for progress.
Next, you must focus on that passage and repeat it as often as needed. In this aspect, it is essential to vary the rhythmic patterns of the above example of running sixteenth notes. That way, you allow the muscles to prepare for the changes required for your fingers. As a reminder, you must repeat the correct way of playing, as repeating the wrong way cannot achieve the desired results.
Another way you can practice is to play softly and avoid playing loud. Doing so lets you relax your muscles if they feel tight, putting your mind at ease. That strengthens your muscles and helps you listen on a different level to make the appropriate adjustments. I experienced a similar situation yesterday during my tennis lesson when my grip on the racket was too tight. And the instructor told me to relax the grip. After I loosened my grip, my hit immediately improved. Therefore, when passages need to be fixed, it is crucial to check oneself to see if there are no issues with tension, as being tense can create problems.
In the case of the running sixteenth notes, you can also use the following method by playing the first four notes, then starting again and adding the fifth note, starting again until the fifth note and adding the sixth, going back again and playing up to the sixth note and now adding the seventh note and so on. Another idea is trying to play that section backward.
There are other ways to master specific passages: sing aloud or in your head before trying to play on your instrument. This can be employed before beginning to play at a concert by thinking ahead in your head, which can also be recommended. That is a way of preparing before you begin playing.
When a passage seems too demanding, you can tell yourself that the section you are working on is straightforward. This is helpful when playing running sixteenth notes or phrases that are much more challenging.
Therefore, the most crucial element is to remain vigilant and patient. Employ different methods to achieve your goals. Trust the process and continue practicing and persevering.
How do you work out the challenging phrases during your practice hours? Please share your comments below.
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