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Molly Stier -- PracticingCherryValleyMusic.com © 2011

Practicing

by

Molly Stier© 1999

Help for Parents -- page 2

Practice Checklist for Pianists -- page 3

Practice Directions for Beginners -- page 4

Practice Directions for Intermediate Students -- page 4

Practice Directions for Advanced Students -- page 5

The Process -- page 7

Practicing Hanan -- page 8

What to do when you think you're finished and time is left on the clock!-- page 9

1


Help for Parents

Do you know the most effective time to practice?

• Directly after the lesson! New materials and skills are freshest at that time.

• The sooner a student practices, the better!

Does your child wait until the last minute to do theory work?

• Please encourage your child to do written music assignments early in the week.

• Incomplete theory assignments will be completed during lesson time.

Do you know that your child has a specific list of practice directions to follow?

• Double check to make sure your child follows all, not just a few, of the practice steps.

• A child will fulfill his or her full potential by following these carefully designed practice steps.

• Please see Practice Directions for Beginners, Intermediate Students and Advanced Students.

Playing is not practicing.

• Just playing through a piece of music is not practicing!

• Practicing requires many separate steps.

• Please see Practice Directions for Beginners, Intermediate Students and Advanced Students.

Most children dislike playing and counting aloud.

• It is difficult, but so necessary for good musicianship.

• Commiserate with your child, express that you know it is difficult, but only practice can makeperfect!

Always, always look at the Assignment Book.

• The written Assignment is an important record of weekly goals and accomplishments.

• To be completely prepared for each lesson, the student must prepare the complete assignment.

• Students must OPEN the book, READ and FOLLOW directions.

2


Practice Checklist for Pianists

Note ...The following ideas have been cultivated over years of music study. I credit many of my teachers

with instilling these ideas as well as my own experience in teaching, listening, reading and performing.

Play with ...

• accuracy and beautiful tone

• correct fingering

• correct rhythm

• correct articulation

• correct dynamics

• correct pedaling

• correct tempo

• correct technique

• correct memory

• balance between voices

• musicality (communicating the character and spirit of the music)

Focus on ...

• centering fingers on the keys

• sounding notes in chords simultaneously

• rhythms

• repetition (3 x 3 practice)

• eyes closed

• playing some parts while leaving out others

• playing sections with something in common side by side

• playing fast music slowly

• playing slow music faster

• playing strictly in tempo

• letting the music breathe where it wants

• experimenting with tempo

• playing staccato passages legato

• playing legato passages staccato

• breathing

• inviting inspiration into every moment of your practicing and performing

3


Practice Directions for Beginners

• Clap and say the rhythm (say "quarter-quarter, half-note, etc.)

• Name the notes.

• Find the hand position to begin.

• Play and say the note names.

• Play and say the rhythm.

• Play and count the beats.

• Play and sing the words.

• Just play!

When you think you've learned a new piece well, play it 3 or more times a day until your lesson.

Practice Directions for Intermediate Students

In a Nutshell...

• Look at the time signature (how many beats are in each measure?)

• Look at the key signature (what sharps or flats will you need?)

• What key are you playing in? Do you know the 3 primary chords in that key? You're likely to

need them.

• Divide the music into logical practice sections (first try groups of 8 measures).

• Play through the notes HANDS SEPARATELYfirst.

• Play again, H.5., with a slow and steady beat. COUNT.

• Play H.S. and exaggerate the DYNAMICS.

• Play hands together.

• Play hands together, set a slow and steady beat, and COUNT.

• Play H.T. and observe the DYNAMICS.

• Decide your goal tempo and gradually play faster each time, working toward your goal.

• The magic! Make real music by communicating the feeling and expression of the piece.

3 by3

• For maximum and quickest learning, repeat each step at least 3 times in a row before moving on

to the next task.

• This is your shortest way to success in practice.

4

Molly Stier -- PracticingCherryValleyMus;c.com © 2011

Practice Directions for Advanced Students

The Work

1. Examine the entire piece before playing a note! Ask yourself these questions ...

• How long is it?

• Are there any repeats or other directional signals?

• Can you detect a form? (A-B-A, sonata, rondo, theme and variations, etc.)

• What is the tempo?

• What do the foreign words and phrases mean?

• What is the time signature? How many beats are in each measure? Does it ever change?

• What is the key signature? Does it ever change? What is the key or tonality of the piece?

• How are the clefs arranged?

• Can you imagine the character of the piece by knowing the title, tempo, time signature and key?

Write down words and phrases that would describe the piece.

2. Set a steady, slow tempo and play through the entire piece noticing all dynamic markings, accidentals,

articulation, phrasing, fingerings and symbols.

• Remember that the first time through is the most important.

• Your brain is absorbing the information like a computer accepts data.

• Give it the correct information and the program will work properly.

• Give it the wrong information and the program will need to be corrected later!

3. After playing through, divide the music into logical musical sections, phrases or lines-these will be

your practice groups.

• Most pieces are too difficult to learn in one sitting.

• It is best to practice one or two new groups each session.

The Next Steps

Always know the form and character of the music.

• PRACTICESLOWLY AT FIRST!!!

• 3 x 3 practice is essential.

• Always be able to tap or clap the rhythms away from the keyboard.

• Observe all dynamics, articulation, phrasing and fingerings.

• Add fingerings where necessary, especially in the most difficult passages.

• Memorize the most difficult spots first, no matter how slowly you may creep through them.

• Metronome practice.

• Practice rhythms and accents where needed.

5


• Start with a new practice group each day. Always review.

Repetition

• When you have diligently covered all the ways to practice outlined here and you feel your piece

is well learned, play it through at least two times a day.

• Remember that consistency of daily practice is most important.

Performance

• Practice performing your piece for family or friends.

• Bring it to your lesson.

• Perform in Performance Class and on recitals.

Repeat Performances

• One performance is not enough!

• We learn from every performance.

• You will achieve success only through the Work, Repetition and Performances you have the

courage to attempt.

6


The Process

New Piece

1. Work

• form

• dynamics

• key

• articulation

• notes

• tempo

• rhythms

• character

• technical work (includes 3 x 3)

2. Repetition

• Confidence

3. Performance

• Learning experience

4. Repeated Performance

• Confidence

5. Musical Success!

7


Practicing Hanon

• Learn the pattern

• Hands Separately and Hands Together

• Learn by memory

• Rhythms

• Touches

• Doubling

• Perfect practice-go back to the beginning if you make a mistake!

• Metronome

Helpful Hints

• Start practicing with the back half.

• Know transitions and endings-no surprises!

• Always "play it straight" after changing the pattern in any way.

8


What to do when you think you're finished and time is left on the clock!

First, be sure that your Musicianship, exercises and every piece you have been assigned can be played

through perfectly at least three times. Follow your Practice Directions!

is your theory assignment finished?

if you have accomplished all these things, then look at the list below!

1. Sight read

2. Memorize something you haven't been assigned.

3. Practice performing as though you are in a recital.

4. Tape record your playing and listen back while reading along with your score.

5. Practice exaggerating dynamics.

6. Review "old" pieces.

7. Exercise your imagination! Create a story about a piece you're playing.

8. Work an exercise or phrase of music by trying a different touch or rhythm.

9. Review scales, cadences, etc. that you know but weren't assigned.

10. Play the left-hand part with your right hand, the right-hand part with your left hand. Can you do this

both hands together?

With a bit of imagination, your practice will never be "boring!"

9

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