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How to Practice:
Look at the piece as a whole.
- What is the time signature? Does it change or stay the same?
- What is the key signature? Does it change or stay the same?
- What is the tempo marking?
- What is the title of the piece?
- Are there any repeats or D.C. al Fine's, etc.?
- Are there any dynamics in the piece?
Look at the Rhythm.
- Use a Metronome. You can find them online or download an app.
- Pick a little section that you want to work on.
- Clap the rhythm slowly first.
- Play the rhythm on one open string.
- Play the rhythm on open strings but play the open strings that the notes would be played on.
Look at the Notes.
- In that sections you were working on rhythm, are there any accientals? (Sharps, Flats, or Naturals that aren't in the key signature)
- Play through the notes without the rhythm so you know what they sound like.
- Play the notes slowly with the rhythms (take out any slurs or extras that might make it tricky).
Put it Together.
- Start slowly adding everything together - notes and rhythms for the section.
- When you are feeling confident with the piece at the slower tempo, pick up the speed.
- If you can't play all of the notes with the right tempo, go slower. Try to play the section 5 times in a row without any mistakes before you get faster.
Reassess your playing.
- Is there something that you keep doing incorrectly? Make a mark on your paper in pencil - it might be a fingering, or the counting of a rhythm, or a position.
Add the extras.
- Once you can play the basic parts of the music, add in the dynamics, grace notes, etc. These are what make the music really come alive.
Other Tips:
- Practice in front of a mirror - this will allow you to look at your position - Is your instrument too low/high? Is your bow over the fingerboard/too close to the bridge/crooked?
- Practice with your eyes closed or with the lights off - this will help you focus on intonation because you are not distracted by what you see. Scales are a great opportunity to practice with your eyes closed.
- Change up the rhythms or bowings - if you are working on a steady eighth note or sixteenth note passage, change them into dotted rhytms or add slurs in different places ( Slur Up Down, Slur Down Up, etc. Down Up Slur, Up Down Slur, etc. Slur Slur, Slur Slur, ect.) See Ms. Miller to better expalin these.
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| Other forms of Practice
Athough there is no substitute for you actually picking up your instrument and playing it, there are other ways you can practice.
- Listen to the piece with your music in front of you. Make notes, in pencil, of things you hear that you should do (dynamics, a note that you aren't playing in tune, etc.)
- Record yourself playing a piece and listen to it with your music in front of you. Make notes, in pencil, of things you hear that you want to fix.
- On a photocopy (never on an orginial piece of music), use highlighters to help you with things you really want to focus on. Maybe you need help with which notes to play on which string. Assign each note a color and highlight the notes with their corresponding string color. Maybe you want to focus on dynamics. Use a different color highlighter for the different dynamics.
- Sing your piece the way you want it to sound.
- Practice your scales in the dark. This way you are only focused on the notes you are playing. You must use your ears instead of looking at finger tapes.
- Think of a story that goes along with your piece. Maybe there are happy/sad or fast/slow sections in your music. Come up with a story that helps you remember how you want each section to sound. This can help with phrasing, dynamics, articulation, etc.
- Dance or move to your piece. Come up with actions that help you remember how you want each section to sound.
There are other great ways to practice as well. If there is something that works for you, let me know and I'll add it to the list!
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