David Story, Online Piano Lessons from Toronto
  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #9 May 7, 2022
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Recommended resources and Free Music
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute

Tips, free lessons, and inspiration

We all play like we practice

12/4/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
“Private Practice Determines Public Performance” Carl Allen, December issue
of Downbeat Magazine

 “Start with the end in Mind” Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of  Highly Effective People

Tips on Practicing

I just finished reading Carl Allen’s article in the current issue of Downbeat  magazine. Carl, a drummer, reviews his philosophy of drumming. Most of it is  applicable to piano and guitar as well.

Inspired, I offer this.
  • Listen to competent recordings of your pieces over a number of  days. This will cement in your head the sound you are looking for. The result is  that you know the end result and can then interpret the notation in front of you. Without this, you may never be quite sure if you nailed it or not.

We play like we practice, so…

1. Practice fully engaged: mentally and emotionally.
2. Remember, it has to be in muscle memory to be secure.
3. Practice slowly, listen deeply, be patient, and pay attention to the fine details from the start: articulations, dynamics, phrasing, tone, etc.
4. Tempo will come later.
5. Imagine you have to play publicly in a week. Then tackle the pesky bits first. :-)

Cheers,
David Story
www.davidstory.ca


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.
    Charlie Parker

    Author

    I'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. 

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Adult Piano Lessons
    Breakfast Piano Minute
    Buying A Piano
    Children's Piano Lessons
    Classical Piano
    Ear Training
    Goal Setting
    Hobby Overload
    How To Practice Scales On The Piano
    Jazz Chops
    Jazz Piano
    Learning Classical Piano
    Learning Piano
    Learning Resources
    Motivation
    Music Practice
    Piano Exams
    Practice Organization
    Practicing Piano
    Starting Piano
    Stories
    Summer Piano Lessons
    Technique
    Theory
    Time Management
    Virtual Piano Lessons
    What Students Are Playing This Week

    RSS Feed

                                                ©2022 David Story
                         Contact           Home         Mystery Link
  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #9 May 7, 2022
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Recommended resources and Free Music
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute