Don't Practice - Play! | PRIVATELESSONS.com Music Lesson Tips
Don't Practice - Play! | PRIVATELESSONS.com Music Lesson Tips
Don't Practice - Play!
Learning any instrument requires repeating the same movements repeatedly to build up "muscle memory." But to stay motivated, you have to like what you're doing!
Over the years I've been asked how much my students should practice. The quick answer is, the more you practice, the faster you advance. My students that actually put in an hour a day progress faster than those that can only squeeze in an hour a week.
But the better answer is - don't practice! Who wants to face the drudgery of having to sit down and practice? It's not motivating at all.
On the other hand, if there is a song you are working on - hopefully one you and your teacher chose together because it's one of your favorites - then there's your motivation! If you like it enough, you won't be able to wait to get home and see how much better you can sound playing it each day!
So here's how I'd do it. Plan to work on the great song you're working on towards the end of your practice session. Start your session by going to quiet place, getting comfortable, tuning up your guitar (every time you play!), and "warming up" with familiar chords, scales, or similar exercises. Next practice moving between the chords that are giving you the most difficulty. First play them slowly for accuracy, then play through the changes exactly on time, even if the chords don't come out perfectly - soon they will. Then as your reward for all this work, launch into the song your'e working on. Play the recorded version first to "get it in your head" - then start to play! Hopefully nobody's around so you can rock out without fear of being seen! Playing it over and over won't be a problem if you love the song, and you're secretly teaching your hands the muscle memory it takes to get great.
One last tip - learning to play through ANY changes will enhance your ability to play any others.
So...don't practice...but PLAY a lot!
But the better answer is - don't practice! Who wants to face the drudgery of having to sit down and practice? It's not motivating at all.
On the other hand, if there is a song you are working on - hopefully one you and your teacher chose together because it's one of your favorites - then there's your motivation! If you like it enough, you won't be able to wait to get home and see how much better you can sound playing it each day!
So here's how I'd do it. Plan to work on the great song you're working on towards the end of your practice session. Start your session by going to quiet place, getting comfortable, tuning up your guitar (every time you play!), and "warming up" with familiar chords, scales, or similar exercises. Next practice moving between the chords that are giving you the most difficulty. First play them slowly for accuracy, then play through the changes exactly on time, even if the chords don't come out perfectly - soon they will. Then as your reward for all this work, launch into the song your'e working on. Play the recorded version first to "get it in your head" - then start to play! Hopefully nobody's around so you can rock out without fear of being seen! Playing it over and over won't be a problem if you love the song, and you're secretly teaching your hands the muscle memory it takes to get great.
One last tip - learning to play through ANY changes will enhance your ability to play any others.
So...don't practice...but PLAY a lot!
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posted by PrivateLessons.com at
7:03 AM
