Student Practice Guide
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| 1. |
Isolate the problem spots and work these out. Do not just start at the beginning every time.
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| 2. |
Identify the problem and come up with a plan to correct it. If it is a fingering problem students should practice fingering without making sound. If it is a tone problem students should practice playing or singing with a good sound. If it is a rhythmic problem students should count and clap it and then practice the articulation.
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| 3. |
New material should be practiced first. Students should not play the same songs that they have mastered every day. They will never progress.
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| 4. |
Short sections of music, a few measures, should be completely worked out at a time.
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| 5. |
Slow practice must precede rapid playing.
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| 6. |
Avoid boredom. Students should not stay on one thing too long. They should also play something that they like in its entirety each practice session.
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| 7. |
Work hard! Students should work on each aspect of their playing each day. Play long notes to work on tone and intonation. Work on technique, tone quality, sight-reading, scales, and musicality.
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| 8. |
Have fun. If it starts to drag down, stop and take a break.
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