Colour Outside the Lines Music Centre

“I played it better at home”.  How often I have heard that from students and said it myself.  Often this statement isn’t exactly true.  Most likely you (and I) didn’t notice what went wrong or didn’t know what to do about it.  However, when performing, what we are not doing well stands out like a bright red nose!

Nancy O’Neill Breth has developed a guide to help you practice more effectively  Today and in the next few weeks i am going to give you some of her practice tips.  Let’s start with PACT.

1. Patience-Learning to play the piano can’t be done in a hurry.  It takes time-every day, week and over the years.  Set aside a portion of each day for practicing and keep the appointment faithfully.

2.  Awareness-LISTEN so carefully that you know exactly how you sound

3.  Curiosity-Ask yourself questions.  How did that sound?  Was it better than before?  If so, how?  If not, why not?  Should i slow it down, change what I am doing?

4. Tunnel Vision-Set a specific goal for each practice session.  focus on one problem at a time.  Work in small sections.  Even within a section, work on one hand (or one musical line) at a time or on one aspect only, such as accuracy, speed, balance, dynamics and tone quality

I hope this helps.  More next week.

To build muscle strength and coordination, piano students “train” every day by practicing.  I ask parents to assist them in these ways:

1. Scheduling: In September of each school year, I talk to each student about how much they realistically feel they can practice and I write it down in their Student Music Organizer.  You also should sit down with your child and make a daily practice schedule together. Write down specific times for each day’s session. Divide the practicing into sections if you like. Morning practice gets the best results, so schedule some practice before school if at all possible. Post this schedule near the piano.
2. Environment: During practice time, keep the room quiet. Do not allow phone calls, friends, siblings, TV or other distractions.
3. Supervision: Parents who do not actually sit with the student during practice time should read the Weekly Lesson Assignment in their Student Music Organizer. If you don’t understand what I expect for a lesson, ask your child to explain it to you. If the student doesn’t understand it, call me. Make sure each item on the assignment sheet is covered.
4. Instrument:  Last but not least, each student needs a good instrument to practice on.  This means an acoustic piano (ideally), an electric piano or a keyboard with a minimum of four octaves, weighted keys (keys that respond to touch and have loud and soft sounds depending on the weight and speed of touch applied), and a pedal.

I hope this helps and I look forward to a successful and fun musical year!!