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Sometimes we just need a break from practice

9/29/2017

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Practice is hard work. Sometimes we need to step back and take a short break. Fatigue, physical and/or mental reduces practice effectiveness.

​Recharge tactics
  • Get some sleep
  • Go for a walk
  • Kiss your spouse
  • Play with your kids
  • Drink some water
  • Watch some YouTube videos
Cheers,

​David
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How To Spend A Hour At The Piano

9/5/2017

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Over the long weekend I had a free hour to practice piano without other pressures impeding my focus. A couple of preliminary procedures helped to make it fun and productive.
1.       With only an hour, I didn’t try to accomplish too much. A little done well is way more satisfying that a lot done poorly.
2.       I sought out competent professional recordings of each piece before starting. When I found a performance that spoke to me, I listened and marked the score, noting the phrasing, dynamics, balance, tempi, and most importantly how the cadences were executed.
3.       I played very slow, one phrase at a time, concentrating on the fingering and my initial artistic impression of the pieces gleamed from the performance I had briefly studied. Another way of putting it is this, I played what I heard in my head. My question was, “how do I get the sound in my head out of these notes?” Not, “I wonder how this goes?” Note, I didn’t plan to go back and work on the expression after I had “learned the piece”. As a teacher I suspect many students, lacking this initial artistic impression, end up playing the piece pretty much the way they practiced it in the beginning: flat and without much insight. Remember the key in learning to play is to model great performances.
 
Pieces I worked on or reviewed
·         Allemande in E major from French Suite by JS Bach, new work. I can now play it half tempo
·         Prelude in Bb from book 1 WTC by JS Bach first page focus on the left hand melodic development
·         First movement from Beethoven’s piano sonata in F minor, with focus on the development
·         A small amount of Impromptu in A flat Major (no. 4) by Schubert, focusing on the pulse.

Happy practicing.
​

If you would like a free interview, call me.
​

David Story
​

From Pianist Magazine YouTube Channel. Click here for more. 
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    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. 

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  • Homepage
  • Tips, Ideas, Stories, Free Lessons
  • Adult Lessons
  • Jazz Workshop #Eleven March 5, 2023
  • Contact form, fees, calendar, policies
  • Philosophy
  • Testimonials
  • Children's Winter Concert 2023
  • My Story
  • Student awards and compositions
  • Classical downloads
  • Classical outline for beginners
  • Jazz downloads
  • Jazz outline for beginners
  • Video Library of Piano Techniques
  • Breakfast Piano Minute
  • Books, Apps, Websites, Music
  • Ear Training and Sight Singing Resources