How to Practice: A Summary

by Javier Arau © 2001

• DECIDE which parts you play well and which parts still need work.
• PRACTICE the PROBLEM SPOTS the most.
• Work on ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME.
• Practice smaller PHRASES, one at a time.
• SLOW DOWN.
• Decide on the BEAT before you start playing.
• COUNT THE BEAT out loud.
• Keep a STEADY BEAT. Pretend you are in a parade.
• ZOOM IN and fix problem spots.
• Work on CONNECTING the phrases.
• Work on practicing ONE MEASURE + ONE NOTE.
• When you have learned a section, REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!
• TEACH your fingers! TEACH THEM WELL!
• Fingers need PRACTICE, PATIENCE, and ENCOURAGEMENT.
• SLOW DOWN even more.
• Work on EVEN SMALLER SECTIONS.
• Play with CONFIDENCE.
• Practice EVERY DAY.
• Always be very PATIENT.
• ENJOY the music!

Practicing DON'Ts:

• Don't just play from the beginning of the song all the time.
• Don't practice the whole song all at once.
• Don't skip over the problem spots.
• Don't just practice the parts you can already play well.
• Don't pause the rhythm in between measures.
• Don't rush the rhythms.