HOW TO PRACTICE ON YOUR TRUMPET/SAXOPHONE/TROMBONE: Much can be accomplished in 15 minutes of practice if you structure your time efficiently. Follow these steps to help you use your practice time to its fullest potential. Remember that frequent short practice sessions are far more beneficial than long marathons. 1) IDENTIFY PROBLEM SECTIONS •Set a goal- Know what youre going to work on before you begin practicing. (Identify difficult notes, rhythms, intervals, fingerings) 2) ISOLATE THE PROBLEM •It is usually 2-3 notes that are the problem and each individual issue must be addressed separately: -Separate music into: .1) Rhythm problems -figure out counting (1+2+3+4+) -clap/speak rhythm while using a metronome. .2)Pitch(note) problems -figure out fingering(use google) -play pitches slowly (pay close attention to difficult intervals). .3) Flexibility problems -work the interval(s) very slowly and move the same interval up down chromatically. When playing brass instruments it is important to REST frequently. 3) PLAY SLOWLY •Play the measure(s) slowly, starting a few measures before the problem area and continuing a few measures beyond it. Repeat slowly until youre comfortable with it. 4) GRADUALLY SPEED UP •Play the passage a number of times, each time a little faster than the last, until you are playing it at the correct tempo. 5) MAKE UP SHORT EXERCISE BASED UPON THE PROBLEM •Make up(or find) a short exercise that addresses the weakness in your playing and play it in a variety of keys. Most playing problems (for brass players) occur because of flexibility or technical issues. Constantly practicing a piece from beginning to end will not solve problems: the root issues must be addressed and solved first! Master AR
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:09:30 +0000
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