FruitarGeek wrote
Arjun, very impressive practice shedule. It covers nearly everything, although don't you feel that by cramming all into 2 hours, you compromising each section? like 10 min for music reading, or 20 minute to develop technique? Don't you need more time?
You've got a point FG. I wouldn't say compromising though. If a person has more time, then that's great but it boils down to time management...and setting clear goals (realistic ones) on what needs to be acheived in that practise period.
In my schedule, there's about 50 mins dedicated to scales/chords and the ear training that goes with it.
My sight reading is really pathetic, so i tend to take short simple pieces that don't scare my socks off.
The goal here is to be able to read the piece in 10 minutes. And as your reading gets better, you can start choosing more advanced pieces to read. If you pick a piece that you can't read in 10 minutes, then you need to go back a step, pick something easier and build from there.
I still haven't reached the stage where i can read and play all at once (i tend to cheat when i do that).
I think you can apply the same to technique as well. I try an aim for accuracy over speed, going over things like where am i placing my hands, what are my fingers doing etc. If i can get a technique down cold in one sitting, then great. If not, i revisit it at the next session. And the time between practise sessions allows me to stew on what i was doing wrong, but i don't try to beat myself up too much. Once i've got the technique down, then i start trying to throw various phrasing options, note choices, effects etc at it and see what sticks. This takes me anywhere from a week to 3 week's worth practising. I know that might be dead slow in many people's minds, but it works well...for me.
