Even students who have been playing for a few years could improve their skills through more effective practice, so we tapped into Private Lesson instructors Mrs. Kathy Musat (brass) and Dr. Samuel Rotberg (violin) for their best advice. Here are the top 5 tips they offered:
- Staying calm, cool, and collected during your practice session helps create a more positive environment, which in turn, allows for musical and technical growth. Determination when tackling a new piece and being relaxed makes the process easier – and more enjoyable.
- Start slowly, concentrating on correct playing technique and music reading. Once that is achieved, the tempo can increase – eventually achieving performance tempo.
- Practice with great patience and generous repetitions! When we practice, we are building muscle memory. The more times we execute a passage in exactly the same way, the better the chance it will come out that way every time we play it.
- Practice daily – even if it is a short period of time. Daily practice is more effective than one or two long sessions a week. Again, this aids in building muscle memory.
- Lastly, have faith in the process! Playing a musical instrument is difficult and not always instantly gratifying. Recognize the things you are doing well, and maintain the faith that, with time and hard work, you can conquer any challenge.
We offer private lessons in more than 20 instruments including voice and music theory, as well as dance and theatre. To learn more, visit our private lesson page.