What to Practice?

Drawing from The Elements of a Successful Music Program page, right here on the {{ config('csp.site.title') }} site. The various areas of study, exploration, practice — whatever you want to call it are:

• Technique is the physical control and coordination needed to play an instrument or sing.
• Theory is the body of principles behind music.
• Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capacity to relate to music aurally.
• Reading is the ability to reproduce music from written notation.
• Repertoire includes the songs within a musician's performance ability.
• Improvisation is the ability to spontaneous create melody over a predetermined chord progression.
• Musical Idioms is the study of music and the musical styles it involves well-developed categories as; Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, Urban, and Fusion. It also includes subdivisions and specializations.
• Songwriting is the creation of original music based on a single melodic line with a chord progression.
• Arranging involves the choice of instruments, tempo, rhythmic feel, form, intros, endings, interludes, solos, harmonies, and instrumental accompaniment of a song.
• Interpretation involves the ability to perform a song or composition in a unique and personal way. This is the Artistic part of being a musician, part pf performing. By increasing your vocabulary of scales, intervals, arpeggios, sequences, chords, rhythmic patterns, and dynamics you'll have a foundation to drawn for creating your own voice on your chosen instrument.

With {{ config('assets.total') }} lessons, songs, books, videos, play-along tracks and related assets as of {{ config('assets.as_of') }} on {{ config('csp.site.name') }} — it can get a bit overwhelming to figure out what to work on and even simply where to start. Start with the Lessons Series section of the site, a curated set of lessons, each covering a specific topic and area of study and the related lessons.

First, a Few Practice (exploration) Principles

• Establish a long term musical goal, and keep it in mind at each practice session.
• Focus on your weaknesses, not on your strengths. Work only on the weaknesses that are relevant to your long term musical goal (Principle No. 1).
• Set a short-term goal before each practice session, so you know how the first 10 minutes will be used before you start.
• Practice what you don't know, NOT what you do know.
• If it sounds good, it's not practice, and it doesn't count towards your practice session.
• Don't practice anything wrong; not one single note or one beat. When in doubt, triple check the note or beat, and then check it again.
• Don't play pieces or songs through from beginning until end; work on parts or pieces of songs.
• Leave your instrument out, or, if you're a singer, leave your music out on a music stand, in a place where you will see it every day.
• Practice for at least 10 minutes every day. If you miss days, don't give up. Just get back on schedule.
• Don't practice the same thing, in the same order, that you did the day before.

I use this line on my private students ALL the time when they're trying to do something too… fast. Slowdown, speed is a by-product of playing accurately and under control.

Fast is nothing more than slow — quicker. — Curt

Getting Started Series of Lessons

Although this might be viewed as a beginner series of lessons, and you might think you are beyond that stage. I venture to guess that ever seasoned players will get something out if it. Take a quick pass through the lessons in the Getting Started Series and fill in some gaps. Even myself when reviewing and editing the lessons and material in {{ config('csp.site.name') }} I often refresh my memory and can use something I haven't used in a while.

Two Approaches Too Learning Music

The Song-Based Approach

The song-based approach is one where you pick a song and the song tells you what you need to know to perform the song. This approach really needs the guidance of someone who already knows how songs work and the components of songs in general. And, specifically, can guide you in learning that particular song and discovering the ingredients that can be re-used for future songs.

A Systematic Approach

This approach builds a solid foundation of what is needed to perform ANY song by building a set of chords that are required for most songs. It really benefits from the guidance of an expert teacher, coach, advisor, mentor, etc…

This is my approach – NOT to, specifically, teach you songs, but to teach you the principles that are inherent in every song. This allows you to learn any song and develop your repertoire and voice. We do use songs based on the principles being learned. Or, if you are working on a performance piece.

With this approach, you can help the person using the Song-Based Approach.