Activities designed to help develop a skill.
19
votes
3answers
3k views
How can I train my ear for music?
I have noticed that some people are better at hearing music, e.g. they are better in distinguishing the notes or noticing mistakes when someone is play.
Is it possible to train oneself to hear music ...
19
votes
6answers
1k views
What are some useful and effective exercises for training absolute pitch?
I think by now most people agree that perfect pitch is not genetic. We understand that most people who do possess perfect pitch acquire it very early in life, (around the same time most people acquire ...
18
votes
8answers
724 views
Is there a way to develop “Perfect Pitch”?
I was wondering if there is/are any aural exercise('s), analogous to how playing scales can develop your muscle memory, that can help to develop "Perfect Pitch"?
16
votes
5answers
4k views
Improving fretting hand strength
I've been playing for years now as a hobby guitarist, but my fretting hand strength plateaued - it never really improved much beyond what I could do 2 months after I started playing.
Since then, I'm ...
11
votes
4answers
670 views
What is a string skipping exercise?
What is a string skipping exercise? I've heard about this exercise a lot, including on this website. What is it? What skills does it develop? Can you give an example?
11
votes
4answers
212 views
How to relax my wrists?
I began learning the piano recently. When I begin playing, my hands form nice 70-80 degree curves with the wrists relaxed. I can maintain this for trivial pieces with no significant hand motion. But ...
11
votes
3answers
871 views
Improving breath support
What are some exercises or tips to help singers improve their breath support?
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Are Hanon exercises mindless unmusical repetiton or a great way to develop finger strength and dexterity?
There are a lot of different opinions about Charles-Louis Hanon's "The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises". Some say it is unmusical and can even lead to wrist damage, while others think they are the ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views
Finger Exercises for Piano when not playing
Are there any finger exercises I can perform even when I am not near a piano to improve my dexterity and strength of my fingers?
9
votes
4answers
297 views
Free exercise books
I've asked a question here: What is a string skipping exercise?.
A follow up question: Are there some good free exercise books available on-line for the post-beginner stage? A link to a good ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Right hand accuracy
I've realized, that I have a big problem with right hand accuracy, when using a pick, especially, when I play arpeggios and have to skip a string or a couple of stings. Sometimes, I hit the wrong ...
9
votes
1answer
349 views
What kind of guitar exercise is “the caterpillar”?
What does it consist in and how do you practice it?
8
votes
4answers
448 views
How can I improve my note accuracy and intonation?
Over time my pitch has improved simply through singing more, but I still have some problems with being a bit off sometimes (or way off on very high or very low notes). It helps if I focus on a ...
7
votes
6answers
990 views
When singing, how to avoid being distracted by vocal harmony or other vocal lines?
I'm not a professional singer but I love singing. I find it very difficult to focus on my own vocal line when I hear other vocal lines. For example,
When I was in the college choir, I sang bass, and ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
How can I improve my playing of faster finger runs?
I am just preparing for my grade 8 piano exam. I'm struggling with quick runs in the 3rd movement of Beethoven's Sonate Pathetique. It really doesn't sound right. When I play I can't do it smothly and ...
7
votes
5answers
522 views
How can I strengthen my fretting hand away from my guitar?
I don't get as much time with my guitar as I'd like, and I'd like to be "in shape" for the time of day when I can play. Are there exercises I can do while I don't have my guitar that can help improve ...
6
votes
3answers
230 views
What is the best way to work on my fret hand finger independence?
As a beginner, I find my fingers going everywhere but the places I want them! This is especially true when I'm attempting scales/licks that use my 4th finger a lot or requires quick interchanging ...
6
votes
2answers
932 views
Pinky is raised uncontrollably when doing finger exercise
When I do finger exercises (e.g. Hanon's), my pinky finger is being raised after I play (press and release) a key with my fourth finger, and then is raised even more and is striated after the third ...
6
votes
5answers
1k views
What is the foundational book of Czerny finger exercises for piano?
I've recently started teaching myself piano (via Bartok's Mikrokosmos) and feel it would be helpful to supplement the pieces with some standard exercises. Everyone I speak with suggests Czerny, but ...
6
votes
1answer
702 views
Exercises for quickly identifying intervals on the staff
In order to improve my piano sight-reading, I want to practice recognizing intervals on the staff faster. If possible I'd like to combine the interval-recognition with a training for my finger memory, ...
6
votes
1answer
382 views
How to improve/train pinky dexterity for guitar playing (after long absence)
I played guitar from 12 to 23, but haven't really played for the last 5 years and would like to start again.
However, when I used to play I rarely used the pinky finger because I have big hands (not ...
5
votes
3answers
109 views
Should a violinist use hand strength exercisers? If so, what kind?
Should a violinest use a hand exerciser, by which I am referring to the kind generally used by guitarists? An example of one may be found here.
If so, is there a specific kind and/or tension which is ...
5
votes
2answers
457 views
How can I develop a high register on a brass instrument without creating tension?
Lately I've been reading about how trombonists (or any other brass instrumentalists) tend to develop tention in their neck or torso when playing in the higher register. In working to decrease ...
5
votes
1answer
179 views
Learning to trill without a trill key
I don't really like resorting to trill keys when I want to do difficult trills like C-D. For one, the pitch and quality isn't exactly the same. Also, it feels like cheating. I'm willing to use them as ...
5
votes
1answer
220 views
Are there exercises similar to the 'Buddha rope' for endurance on bass guitar?
The "Buddha rope" technique described by Bill 'The Buddha' Dickens in his training DVD basically entails putting a rope between strings and then using the increased tension for building muscles in ...
4
votes
3answers
190 views
Looking to expand my Spanish guitar repertoire
I'm a middle-level guitarist with a sort of rag-tag set of music under my fingers. I've recently become transfixed by the music of Paco de Lucia, Carcassi (I know, he's Italian), and Segovia. I'm ...
4
votes
5answers
513 views
Piano Exercices to go beyond John Thompson's Modern Course?
I've been playing the piano long enough now that I thought it might be helpful to learn a few exercises for improving dexterity and/or "warming up" when one first sits down at the piano. My level is ...
4
votes
1answer
662 views
What choir pieces are suited to warm up a new, small choir?
Soon I will have the pleasant duty of leading an amateur choir at a two-week summer camp. I am looking for warming up pieces that are easy, but fun. It should be possible to learn them without having ...
4
votes
6answers
199 views
How to build up to playing an F chord? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I best learn to play barre chords?
I recently just got back into trying to learn to play guitar. I'm going through and learning all of the major chords in the ...
3
votes
3answers
557 views
Trumpet - Charles Colin Lip Flexibilities Vol. 1 Exercise 1
I am trying to go through the whole Charles Colin Lip Flexibilities book. Here is an excerpt from the first exercise:
There are two ways I could interpret this. Since this book is about building up ...
3
votes
1answer
561 views
(Free) exercises for intermediate piano player
I'm looking for a good set of exercises that I could practice to develop dexterity, finger strength, and other important skills. Exercises in theory are also quite welcome. I would say I am of ...
3
votes
1answer
879 views
Exercises for Tuvan Throat-Singing (Overtone-Singing)?
I've been fascinated for many years with Tuvan Throat-Singing, particularly the group Huun-Huur-Tu. A few years ago I happened upon a Scientific American article (which I have since misplaced) that ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Do I have a problem in my ring finger?
I play piano, guitar violin and other instruments.
I have a little weakness in my ring finger, especially the left one.
Instrumently-agnostic speaking, to reproduce what I'm talking, place your left ...
2
votes
2answers
238 views
Hannon or Czerny
What are the best exercises for someone who had played the piano for 3 years but has had a 4 year break and wants to get back into playing, Hannon or Czerny?
2
votes
3answers
124 views
What are some of the strength building exercises for Bass players?
What are some of the strength building exercises for Bass players, especially for the left palm/fingers?
2
votes
1answer
268 views
Beginning sweep picking exercises
What are some recommended easy exercises to start developing the sweep picking technique in guitar? And what advice would you give to someone who's just starting with this technique? I mean, what is ...
2
votes
2answers
100 views
Please recommend a book with excercises for guitar duet
Me and my friend play acoustic guitar. We are looking for a book, that will provide us with excercises to play together. I've searched on the net, but couldn't find anything, though I am sure those ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Silent drum warm-up exercises
In my brass band, we usually start rehearsals with a hymn tune to warm up. Hymn tunes make a good warm-up exercise, but not for the drummer: I usually have either tacet or long rests punctuated by ...
2
votes
1answer
301 views
Are there vocal exercises that can be done through the course of the day while doing other things?
I'm a computer science student and I spend a big part of my day sitting in a classroom or typing at a computer. I like to sing and play instruments as a hobby, but it's not always that I have time to ...
0
votes
2answers
239 views
What are some solid techniques for playing the piano quickly (fast tempo)?
I have always struggled with speed. When I get my fingers together (i.e. guitar style instrument with a pick), I do down-right horrible with speed. When they are separated (i.e. bass, and piano), I do ...
0
votes
1answer
237 views
How do I continue improving my saxophone technique?
I've started learning saxophone three weeks ago. I'm having really good fun with it and I play it whenever I can.
I already play drums, bass guitar, and trombone so I know a bit about music, but not ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
Belt (singing) exercises and techniques?
So, I have worked hard to develop a middle voice and head voice but it doesn't have the really powerful tone of a belt voice. Can anyone give me audio exercises or refer some source for belting ...
0
votes
1answer
290 views
Any exercise to extend my finger flexibility?
When playing guitar, the fingers need to be extended flexibly in order to hit the right part of a string. Is there any exercise to make them more flexible when I am not playing guitar?
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Getting back to the piano after 5 years - restart with lessons or just play? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Get back into piano after long break?
How to get back on track after long absence
Before I went to university I spent quite some time playing the piano after several ...
