Effective Practive & Motivation
FAQ | recommended resources | piano: bare essentials | Effective Practice & Motivation
Below are some of the many different aspects involved in learning
how to practice effectively.
Environment | Goals | Musical Form | Rhythm | Fingering |
Posture & Tension | Method | Working
for Speed
Tone | Memory | Motivation
MEMORY
There are different kinds of memory and students often have different
degrees of strengths in each of them: Aural, Analytical, Visual,
Kinesthetic.
A good musical memory can be developed with practice. Faulty memory
during a performance is often the result of performance anxiety
and/or inadequate preparation. All of the above topics contain ideas on how to improve preparation. The section, Method, may be especially helpful and practical in helping to develop a secure memory.
I recommend that students practice performing by playing for friends
and/or family before trying to perform in public. Participation
in workshops and/or masterclasses can also be very
helpful. Each successive 'performance' will usually get easier
and easier.
This link from the website of pianist and teacher, Gretchen Saathoff, provides very helpful suggestions on how to memorize music effectively: click here.
Aural Memory
Singing is an effective way to develop one's aural memory. A very
challenging and effective way to strengthen one's aural memory
is to extract certain passages from a piece and try to transpose
them into different keys. This can be extremely challenging so
you might want to start by transposing just the melody of one
single phrase. A very challenging and effective way to strengthen
one's memory is to extract certain passages from a piece and try
to transpose them into different keys. This can be extremely challenging
so you might want to start by transposing just the melody of one
single phrase.
Analytical Memory
Understanding the Musical Form of a particular piece can be very
helpful in the memorization process. Parallel Practice is also
a very effective way of assuring that the differences of similar
sections are really understood.
Visual Memory
Even if you are not blessed with a photographic memory, the visual
image of the printed score can be helpful. Consequently, it is
wise to use the same score and edition while learning a piece
so as not to get confused by a different layout.
Kinesthetic
Choreograph your hands and arms. Try to decide on fingering
as early on as possible.