Learning a skill by repeatedly rehearsing it.
10
votes
2answers
6k views
How many hours of practice total are typical for different piano grades?
Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Outliers", stated a hypothesis: becoming good at something takes about 10,000 hours of practice.
I've recently been wondering how long a typical piano student has practiced ...
15
votes
9answers
7k views
I want to learn how to sing. Where do I start?
According to a couple of websites, the best way to learn how to sing is with a vocal teacher, a recorder, and practice. But let's say I don't have the means to get a vocal teacher right now. What ...
9
votes
11answers
305 views
What are good warm-up exercises for guitarists?
I do not generally warm up, but then I don't really stretch my playing as much as my ear when I practice. But I know I should.
What are some good exercises to do before I start getting into the ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Where to download music covers for songs (without lyrics)? [duplicate]
I don't know if the title of my question is correct, feel free to edit it.
This video: a guy plays if tomorrow never comes on harmonica, while a musical cover for the song is playing in the ...
3
votes
4answers
93 views
Practicing Trills
The slowness of my trills is getting annoying. I am able to play Blue by Yngwie Malmsteen but yet fail at doing the trill in the intro. How can one practice to make them faster? Endurance is not an ...
4
votes
3answers
155 views
Drum set made from towels/pillows
I'm a drummer who lives in an apartment. I have an electric set, but it is too noisy and I am receiving complaints. I'm sure this has to do with the pads and the kick pedal. I'd still like to practice ...
6
votes
2answers
251 views
How do I improve the rate at which I learn arpeggios?
I'm referring specifically to this sort of structure, where the notes cascade upwards or downwards but most often up and then back down. Many of the pieces I play (on piano) involve this rather ...
5
votes
2answers
82 views
How to practice endurance to be able to play boogie woogie pieces?
I'm practicing boogie woogie pieces like Pete Johnson's Dive Bomber. After some time my hands are getting stiff and tired while practicing. Especially the left hand. I can mitigate this by limiting ...
0
votes
3answers
100 views
Amplifier has no aux in, what alternatives can I use?
As stated my amplifier has no Aux in jack. It's hindering me from practicing with an otherwise (imo) great amp (a Vox Pathfinder 15r).
Been thinking of using this to interface between the music ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
How are method books for instruments created and why do they work?
This is an odd question. But I think I can use some wisdom from teachers and other experienced individuals.
Now, most of the instruments have method books, and many teachers follow them as well. My ...
32
votes
18answers
4k views
How to play a song without making mistakes?
I have played keyboard quite a while and now I'm starting to practice some classical musics like Fur Elise. When I see a live performance of any musical instrument, there seems to be no error at all. ...
10
votes
4answers
195 views
Stage volume levels in rehearsal and performance
Two questions in one here. Often when rehearsing or at gigs, I'm asked to turn up my volume "'Cos we can't hear you!" when the band is already quite loud. Very rarely will the others turn down to ...
0
votes
2answers
75 views
When following a lesson should I make it perfect before going to the next lession
I am following the lessons from a finger-style blues book. I have completed practice lessons "A" "B" and currently at "C". When I was practicing "A" I could be able to play it perfectly most of the ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
Effectively using singing games for vocal training
What are productive ways to use the "Rock Band" video game as part of a vocal training regimen?
Are there any bad habits/practices that singing along with this type of game tends to promote?
1
vote
4answers
147 views
Self learning and tips for a middle aged parent
I have played guitar as a hobby on-and-off for 18 years now. I am not an accomplished player. I took lessons when I started out. I have bought books, and early-on I learned a lot from Fretboard ...
5
votes
4answers
222 views
Can't feel meter when playing
I can't feel the meter when playing along very well, sometimes not at all.
Note I can feel the "pulse" just fine. I have no problem tapping my foot to the beat in time but I can't feel where the one ...
6
votes
3answers
85 views
Learning drum parts by components (each hand and each foot) versus by timeslices
I would like to take drum lessons but unfortunately my schedule doesn't permit it. I know there are many resources online but I'm not sure how long it'd take me to find an answer to my specific ...
2
votes
3answers
99 views
Plateau in speed increases
a while ago I posted this question about my ideas for guitar practise: Guitar practice - general techniques
Since then I've been using the little app I put together, ranked up about 40 hours or so in ...
3
votes
3answers
119 views
Any ways to physically improve hand and finger speed?
My question is general and is instrument agnostic (it's actually even music acoustic).
I'm looking for ways to improve my hand and finger speed, whether it's finger drumming on the kitchen table, ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
Bars 32-37 in Moonlight sonata first movement
I am having trouble playing and memorizing the broken chords sequence:
Should I try and practice on each triplet individually? because when I try to think on it as a broken chord I often can not ...
9
votes
1answer
343 views
What kind of guitar exercise is “the caterpillar”?
What does it consist in and how do you practice it?
1
vote
4answers
119 views
Is a digital or acoustic piano a better option for a beginner (sound and feel)?
I just started learning piano, and I want to buy a piano for recreational purposes and practicing. I am torn between digital and acoustic. I love the feel and sound of an acoustic, but I cannot afford ...
10
votes
1answer
188 views
Is there a common left hand position in accordion?
I'm an amateur accordion player who is having difficulties with the bass side. There's no problem when I'm using close keys such as jumping from C to A. But when I need to jump to a further key such ...
2
votes
4answers
80 views
Karaoke Software for practicing sax
In my sax classes, my teacher accompanies me with his piano. He corrects my timing mistakes. Also, it sounds better than playing alone.
I just came up with a software which can help me to do it at ...
12
votes
4answers
993 views
Fast octaves on the piano
I'm working on the piano accompaniment to Schubert's "Trockne Blumen" variations for flute and piano. Variation 2 is all sixteenth-note octaves in the left hand. I began by practicing very slowly ...
4
votes
3answers
113 views
Finding bandmates in a new city
I'm a young drummer that moved to Los Angeles. How do I find bandmates?
I've tried posting and replying to ads on Craigslist and am going in circles. Most, not all, have been flaky or are into a very ...
8
votes
6answers
195 views
How to close the gap between ideas and capabilities when improvising?
I'm a drumset player. I just finished a B.A. in Percussion Performance, marched 4 years of DCI drum & bugle corps, and am now working on a degree in jazz studies. As I've begun to play more and ...
7
votes
3answers
342 views
What are “nodules” and how do you avoid them?
I've heard from singers (I'm primarily a guitarist) that it can be dangerous to try to make your voice deeper because you might develop "nodules". Is it true? What are they? How can you avoid them?
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Learning standard notation without succombing to simply remembering songs?
I'm in a tricky position. I've been playing guitar for around ten years and am fairly good at improvising and tinkering around on a piano, too. I understand sheet music, I can decipher it, but I can't ...
7
votes
6answers
973 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Repeating the tonic when the scale is ascending and then descending
When I started to learn piano about 2 years ago, I practiced scales with my piano teacher. For practicing C Major, she recommended repeating the tonic:
C D E F G A B C C B A G F E D C
When I ...
11
votes
3answers
286 views
How can I move beyond learning songs?
I can competently learn and play chord progressions and simple runs on the guitar but I do not feel like I understand the instrument. My playing progresses by memorizing songs.
However, I know that ...
-2
votes
3answers
103 views
Drum machine with an API (Ruby would be awesome!) [closed]
I'm looking for a software drum machine that's easy to work with programatically. My goal is to use this as an intelligent metronome for creating drills to practice against.
Simplistically, I want ...
4
votes
4answers
295 views
Backing Tracks for Practicing
Looking for Backing Tracks for Practicing on Guitar, I listen to Heavy Metal and Progressive Metal genre.
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
155 views
Guitar practice - general techniques
I was delighted to come across this site. I'm a self-taught guitarist (largely electric guitar) and am continually looking to improve my playing and practice techniques. The change of running my ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Making a Soundproof Room
I started playing sax. I need to find me place to practice before being killed by my neighbors. I am thinking to soundproof my small room. It does not need to be 100% soundproof, but it's enough if it ...
5
votes
3answers
120 views
Downshifting in high positions on violin
I'm having trouble going down to fifth position from a higher position. I often land a little offkey (usually flat by a quarter-step unless I overcompensate), I think because that's where the base of ...
3
votes
3answers
75 views
What to look for in beginner etudes for a second instrument?
I've already learned the theory, technique and notation as it applies to my primary instrument (guitar). I'd like to pick up a second instrument (viola), but I need to find exercises and etudes that ...
9
votes
6answers
293 views
What kind of effect does practicing on difficult to play instruments have?
To clarify the title, I'm not asking if it helps your mandolin skills to play violin (or vice versa, whichever you feel is "more difficult").
Let's say you are a guitarist: Does it help or hurt to ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Rhythm/Drum exercises without drums
I am a 24 year old computer engineering student who just have started playing drums. I spend on avarage 1 hour on bus to school and 40-60 min on exercise like running, biking, etc every day. My point ...
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Best process to learn a new song
I have been wondering about the best way to learn playing a new song on guitar. For example, a lot of people try to pick a small part, practice and perfect it and then repeat the procedure for the ...
9
votes
5answers
640 views
How do you get into “deep practice” mode?
I read the book The Talent Code from Daniel Coyle a couple of years ago. It defines talent as the combination of three main concepts: Deep Practice, Ignition and Master Coaching.
The first concept, ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
Get back into an instrument after long break?
In my youth I played lots of piano, for over 10 years, and became quite good at it. During college, however, I just didn't have the time to keep it up.
It looks as if I'll soon have access to a ...
2
votes
2answers
112 views
What should I be trying my hand at to practice composing?
I don't really know how to play any instrument, but I do have some USB keys that I have plinked with in Garageband.
I'm not interested so much in learning to perform my works. I enjoy and am inspired ...
4
votes
3answers
272 views
What is a good warm-up for the trumpet/cornet?
I've been playing the cornet for about a year now. I have found that I can play for about five minutes and then I can't play anymore. When I come back five minutes later, I can play just fine and I ...
4
votes
3answers
175 views
Do the hands' sizes affect piano learning/performance?
I don't really know anything about pianos, but since I just got a digital one I guess I should give it a go.
The first thing I noticed is that it is difficult for me to press multiple keys that are a ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Indian Bamboo Flute: Practice
I am learning a 8 hole bamboo flute. I am having difficulties in practicing it because I am getting different sounds for different lip positions. Are there any tricks or ways to get the right sound ...
5
votes
1answer
225 views
Does one play a song better after “sleeping on it”?
Whenever I'm learning something new on the piano, I'll usually
learn the basic notes and rhythm of a section of the song (several measures, maybe a full page depending on the complexity / tempo, ...
21
votes
9answers
442 views
What is the best way of learning the notes on the fretboard.
What is the best way to learn the notes on the fretboard. Are there any good tips on how to do this?
