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Practice Helps That Will Make a Difference
"Practice is the best of all instructors." - Publilius Syrus
Looking for relief from all of the fits, crying, and 'lost' music books? These practice helps are here to help alleviate some of the every day playing 'blues' as well as make practice time more effective overall!
Unfortunately when learning how to play the violin (or any other musical instrument), there will be many times that practicing doesn't sound very appealing to us. There will also be times that we feel as if we are on a treadmill practicing over and over and over again but without much distance gained. We've all heard and to some extent believe the saying "Practice makes perfect." But we also know there are a lot of times that practicing can make even the most passionate violinist just down-right grumpy.
It doesn't have to be that way! Whether you are...
The practice helps below are bound to make any person learning how to play the violin smile.
Making time count with a metronome-
- Quality is not always quantity. If you are limited in time this practice help is for you! Enhance what little time you have by using a metronome. Slow down your speed and practice the correct rhythm. As you begin to master it, speed up your tempo a little bit at a time.
Benefit from using a practice mute
- Practice mutes are great tools for keeping your violin quiet during practice time. Use one for practicing around sleeping children, before orchestra begins, or as warm-up before a performance.
Tips for tackling new songs- Look for patterns; finger patterns, melodic patterns, rhythmic patterns, and sections that repeat themselves. Always start out at a slow tempo.
Fun motivators and practicing strategies
-Use everyday household items to turn practice time into fun time. A muffin tin can double as a practice chart, a candle as a timer, and beads/buttons as rewards.
Proper Warm-up: Don't start practicing without it.- Use passed-off songs and scales as warm up. Even something as simple as playing open strings with broad smooth bows can serve as a starting point for your practice time.
Practice Charts- Some students thrive under practice charts. This Homework Chart from Family Fun Magazine can double as a practice chart.
Print your own here.To Reward Or Not?
- It's hard to know whether rewards are beneficial or not. Read up-to-date articles right here for more information on what the experts are saying.
Repetition That Helps- Repetition when planned out can be very beneficial. Don't fall into the rut of bland repetition; play with a purpose. When practicing a difficult section over and over again, change up the bowing, the rhythm, and the dynamics one at a time. This helps you really learn a passage without developing bad habits and poor technique.