Questions tagged [practice]
For questions about practicing or practice techniques.
695
questions
1
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3answers
274 views
I feel my limits when I am learning drums techniques
I love drums. I am an amateur, but from my childhood I was fascinated by this great instrument.
I've never owned a drum kit but I was always doing noise (with my hands on my belly, with my mouth, ...
23
votes
3answers
4k views
How to prevent one mistake from derailing an entire piece?
When practicing a piece, I find that making one mistake sometimes messes up my muscle memory and throws me completely off. This is especially true of memorized pieces.
This most often happens if, ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
How long would it take for me to learn piano? How difficult is it to learn? [closed]
I'm thirteen years old, and I had always loved classical music. Instruments like the violin, flute, and cello always sounded amazing to me, but the one instrument that really stood out was piano. I ...
7
votes
3answers
120 views
Is there any way to practice different strengths on same hand?
I'm trying to practice a song that requires me to play my right pinkie hard and my right thumb soft, but at the same time. They are an octave apart and I am having trouble playing them at different ...
3
votes
3answers
240 views
Guitar bad habits
Hello I recently asked a question about having no sense of timing in regards to music and I understand a lot of the blame falls on myself but I do practice everyday and have been years. My question is ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Examples of people who started their instrument at an age >20 and got good at it [closed]
Do you know any instrumentalist (guitar, piano or anything else) who has achieved something and started out at an age >20 years? (by achieving I mean give decent performances, handle their instrument ...
2
votes
2answers
498 views
Why does Presto always trip me up?
I have noticed that even after months of practicing C.P.E. Bach's Solfeggio in C minor, I still can't get past Molto Allegro. I have tried thinking of it as an eighth note rhythm and that actually ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
I can't sight-read at intermediate level
I am a Trinity grade 5 pianist and have been playing piano for 2-3 years(earlier played keyboard).
I find very difficult to sight read. I usually play the passage once very carefully and memorize it ...
4
votes
1answer
189 views
Kodaly Rhythm Method
I am intrigued by the simplicity of Kodaly's 'rhythmic imitation' method which supports the lyric flow.
And, I have been investigating how Kodaly would have equally imitated the 'rest' values with ...
1
vote
1answer
918 views
How to practice for piano with chord in one hand and lead in another? [duplicate]
I am used to playing any song with both of my hand as I am good with harmonium in which with one hand you have to wave a door to flow air. But when it comes to playing actual notes (i.e., lead/melody) ...
3
votes
3answers
505 views
What is a good way to practice piano sight reading?
Recently I was practicing piano and my choral director walked by and tapped on the door and told me that, when he grew up, he wished he did a bit of sight reading every day when he was young. Hence my ...
1
vote
1answer
140 views
Guitar - Record exercise lick over metronome with iRig
I would like to record the licks I play while exercising over a metronome in order to improve my timing.
I need a way to record both the lick and the metronome beats to see if I'm picking the note ...
1
vote
2answers
412 views
Some measures have extra whole notes in them. What do they mean? [duplicate]
So i am practicing sight reading and i came across these exercises that have extra whole notes in a measure. What do they mean and how do i play them?
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Five quarter notes in 4/4? [duplicate]
I want to know how to interpret this. I researched a bit but only read about multiple voices, which are obviously not present here.
The whole piece is in 4/4, only this one measure contains 5 ...
11
votes
5answers
4k views
The less I practice, the better I am…?
Over the years I've noticed something very strange about myself.
I've noticed that if I practice, let's say scales, for little time maybe 5 minutes. If I were to keep going, I tend to just mess up ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
looking for an easy way to integrate recording and playing back into my practice routine
All. I'm a new (acoustic) guitarist trying to get some good practice habits into my day. I've heard that it's a good practice habit to start recording oneself, which I'd like to do, but less ...
5
votes
1answer
340 views
String quartet practice routine
I am looking for information on how to structure a practice session for a string quartet. I read many articles online. They talk about working on intonation but hardly any information beyond scales.
...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I practice arpeggios on the piano?
Just to keep it simple, say we're talking about C major. I just practice (imagine I hit a key with each letter written).
C E G
D F A
E G B
F A C
G B D
A C E
B D F
C E G
Which is just the 7 diatonic ...
5
votes
2answers
443 views
Forgetting old finger position
I have played guitar for over 2 years and I know many riffs. One thing that came to my concern today is that when I started using this exercise with a metronome (below) I wasn't able to play the ...
1
vote
3answers
170 views
Improving a sloppy guitar style
I am practicing fingerstyle guitar, basically following a tab, music sheet and practicing until I get the song right. The problem is that I make lots of small mistakes, like muting strings or buzzes ...
2
votes
1answer
180 views
Advice on fingering and hand position
I am practicing left hand of the following peice on piano. It needs to be played relatively fast with fingers spanned over an octave, involving D3, G3, B3b, D4. Any advice on how to position my hand ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
I get wrist pain when playing on the side of the keyboard opposite my hand?
So when I play Hanon my wrist hurts when my right hand goes all the way to the left side of the piano. I try to keep good posture and lessen tension but it hurts. Only while playing and the pain goes ...
0
votes
2answers
674 views
Is it possible for me to learn piano very very good if I start at this age (26) ? If yes, how long would it take? [closed]
I am a 26 years old male, from South Asia. I love music so much, and I can sing good. I cannot play any instrument. I love the sound of piano.
Is it possible for me to learn piano very very good ...
2
votes
1answer
605 views
Strategies for learning all 60 seventh chords in root position (5 qualities in 12 keys)
I am attempting to learn all 60 root position seventh chords. I would like to do this in a way that advanced my playing ability most efficiently.
I've heard I should focus on 3 things: motor ...
56
votes
11answers
22k views
Do advanced musicians still practice scales every day?
I'm wondering if you're ever "done" or do you just go practicing them forever?
1
vote
3answers
115 views
How do I count this piece?
I'm only used to standard groupings of notes (like triplets, sixteenth notes, sixteenth note triplets in 4/4) but I don't know how to read/interpret n-lets such as the ones below.
How would I count ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Is there a way to mute a specific instrument on songs so I can play that part with my instrument?
I am learning to play guitar and, in some videos I have seen in youtube, people play a song in the background (that has muted the guitar part) so they play it themselves. Is there a software to do ...
0
votes
1answer
405 views
French counting system
I have learned part of the French counting system (crotchet=Ta, crotchet rest=Sa etc.). Where can I find the rest of the system? I've spent hours searching and have found more questions than answers.
16
votes
6answers
536 views
How do you avoid mindless practicing
I finally realize the problem, why I play the same piece over and over again to the point I want to bang my head against the wall and still not improve or feel very empty and that you haven't ...
2
votes
3answers
180 views
Is playing some interesting tunes as good as 'practicing'?
I hope this is a valid question and not too subjective:
I'm mainly a bass player, and I follow a pretty strict practice regimen on bass - a series of exercises using a metronome, that follow an ...
6
votes
7answers
400 views
How do I own the music?
Bear with me with this non musical analogy:
I am a driving instructor and one of the things we look for is for a pupil to know they can drive by themselves.
One of the questions they will eventually ...
7
votes
3answers
513 views
Singing what you're playing vs playing what you're singing
I’ve heard the advice :- play what you sing as a means of practicing playing what you hear in your head.
I've realised that I tend to sing the stuff I play instead of playing what I sing.
I already ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Lost direction in practicing drums
I am a self-learning drummer for playing drum for around 1 year.
Recently I am facing a problem which is I have lost my direction of practicing.
I feel like I am at a bottleneck and need some ...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
Do I over practise?
One of the piano fundamentals I learnt is to memorise pieces. This is done for the ones I like or ones I wish to remember so I can play and assimilate an artist style( I memorised all of Bach’s little ...
1
vote
2answers
826 views
Baritone or Bass? and how to extend vocal range
I had vocal warm up and I can reach from E2-F4 tone, but am I baritone or bass? because some reference have different vocal range, for example: in reference 1 said baritone until G4 but other ...
0
votes
2answers
336 views
Practicing rhythm with clapping and singing
I was wondering how to go about practicing different rhythms like latin or african or even odd time meter ones. I think just listening to that kind of music (suggestions are more than welcome) and ...
1
vote
1answer
245 views
Guitar, tapping one handed Chord Shapes
I have been trying to learn one hand tapping on guitar for a while now but am having some trouble. Lately I have just been tapping out a E major or A major barre chord shape slowly and trying to get ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
How to play this part clear and coodinated?
I can't play this part clear and coordinated. My left hand and right hand are fighting. How can I fix it? Is my fingering wrong? Or my practice is not enough? Please help me to fix it! Thanks! Bartók ...
4
votes
1answer
133 views
Fingers don't feel thinnest strings well
I learn to play acoustic guitar without a teacher, started a month ago.
I started with classic guitar and then switched to dreadnought with metallic strings.
After I developed calluses, I almost don'...
2
votes
3answers
161 views
Learning from real pieces
My piano teacher is really into Beyer Op. 101 and the dreadful Hanon. In his view first Beyer, then others, Hanon always at the beginning for ten-twenty minutes.
Now, I love (obviously) classical ...
2
votes
1answer
311 views
How to play this on a piano
I want to know how to play the piano notes on the picture and if I just got really small hands.
I play the first two accords with my thumb pressing two keys simultaneously. Is this the correct way ...
3
votes
3answers
164 views
Can someone help me get rid of my bad habit of not being able to play except from certain spots?
When I'm playing a piece and I make a mistake, or I just want to practice a certain part, I can't play just that part. When I try to start in the middle or beginning of a phrase I realize I don't know ...
0
votes
2answers
223 views
Notey Left Hand
I am currently learning the Chopin Ballade No.1, and my teacher told me that my left hand sometimes sounds really notey. Especially with octaves. Is there any way to prevent the choppy sound? I am ...
2
votes
1answer
563 views
Practicing Jazz on Alto Saxophone
A little bit of background: I have been playing alto saxophone for about 15 years now and played in various bands. When I started, I had weekly appointments with a teacher and that was absolutely cool....
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Drums: kick drum substitute for practise at home
My daughter (7 yrs) has started playing drums and at school they have a full drum set (kick drum, snare drum, high hat, etc).
To practise at home, she was given a snare drum. To me it seems she would ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
How to do doubles?
Is there a "by the book" way to do doubles, or is this something that different people will simply interpret (and execute) in different ways? I understand that both strokes with each hand should sound ...
3
votes
2answers
373 views
Do concert musicians encounter silly mistakes during practice?
I do this every now and then: I'll be practicing a piece and encounter a passage where I know every single note, could probably write it out from memory, but keep making a silly mistake (like playing ...
0
votes
2answers
259 views
What can I do before buying and learning violin?
I'm going to buy and learn violin in next several months. I want to ask what I can do now, such as ear training or anything to improve my "sense" on music. I usually listen to baroque music and Suzuki'...
1
vote
3answers
790 views
Jazz improvisation theory
As mentioned before, I am classically trained and started looking into jazz (and blues) about a week ago, starting with the 2-5-1 progression and looking at other similar techniques.
I am also ...
3
votes
5answers
890 views
Piano practice exercises
I am a 54 yr old learning to play the piano for a year now. What are the best exercises to loosen my hands and play with arm weight?
