Fixing Trouble Spots with the Smarties Practice Drill

This is, by far, the most popular practice drill with my piano students. If you are looking for new ideas for how to practice, try this Smarties Drill.First, you start with a number of Smarties (between three and five is ideal). It actually doesn't need to be Smarties. You can use carrots, raisins, M&M's, nuts or even marbles. Using something edible makes it more fun. However, try to keep it to snacks that are safe around your instrument (chocolate chip cookies or brownies would really mess up your musical instrument).Group your Smarties on one side of a Kleenex or plate:

Pick a spot in a song that requires extra practice. Maybe it's a spot where you consistently have a few few notes or where the rhythm is just a little wonky. Play through the spot slowly.

Each time you play through that spot cleanly, move one of the Smarties to the right-hand side of your Kleenex (the "Success!" side):

Smarties Drill - Progress?

 Say that your first two run-throughs were pretty good, but your third wasn't so hot. You have to move one of the Smarties from the "Success" pile to the "Oops, try again" pile.

Once you've done enough clean run-throughs to get all the Smarties to the "Success!" side, you can pat yourself on the back and enjoy your Smarties.

Don't forget to work the trouble spot that you worked on back into your piece in stages. Add the bar before, then the bar after the trouble spot. Keep extending your practice area until you can play through the entire section pretty well. That's a different practice drill.

Music Practicing 101 - Speed Learning

If you have to get something ready to perform and you have very little preparation time, you have to manage your time very efficiently to get the job done. This is where speed learning comes in.

Speed learning techniques are useful for musicians

of any level and any age. There are several approaches to speed learning a piece of music, which I outline in my speed learning piano tutorial:

Regardless of your approach, there are a few common themes:

1. Have frequent mini-practices to get the music into your muscle memory, e.g. five 2-minute practices, or five 5-minute practices.

2. Know your theory! It's important to know where you are in the form of the piece (e.g., A section? Recap? Second verse?). It is equally just as important to know your harmony. More on that later.

3. Make it easier for yourself: Most people won't notice if you make a few modifications. Look for ways to simply patterns. Younger students can play solid chords instead of the fancier Alberti bass. Drop the doubled-notes. Go ahead scribble in the note-names for notes on the ledger lines. Write in the harmony (the chords).

4. Set your goals and tasks for each mini-practice: Which trouble spots are you going to work on? Which practice drill is the best for fixing it? You must strive to see and hear a significant improvement on that spot by the end of your mini-practice.

5. Use practice aids: Drag out that metronome from behind the piano. Prop up your iPod, tablet or smart phone by your instrument to play along to a recording of your piece. You can also record and review your progress.

By regularly doing "speed learning challenges" or "quick studies",  you will notice that you will learn your "regular" pieces more quickly.

I'll have to ask my fellow music teachers if they have any other speed learning tips to share. Stay tuned!

Happy practicing!

Music Practicing 101 - Finger Push Ups

This finger exercise is one I learned at one of my early piano lessons, many moons ago. It's a hand exercise to strengthen those musical fingers, especially our very weak finger #4.

I detested it during those early piano practices, but I must say, my Finger #4's are better because of it. My students and I have dubbed it "Finger Push Ups":

Practicing Music 101 - Warm Up Stretches

One area that music students (as well as working musicians!) tend to ignore is stretching. Musicians are, in fact, small muscle athletes. It is important to take care of those delicate muscles that we have, not only to prevent repetitive strain injuries, but to ensure that we can enjoy making music for many years.

Here's a quick video from my Practicing Music 101 series

with seven warm-up stretches for the hands, arms and shoulders:

Check out my articles on Suite101 about

Arm & Hand Stretches

,

Face & Neck Stretches

and

Back & Shoulder Stretches

for more information. Happy practicing!

Music Practice Tips Online

There are a growing number of resources online to help music students with how to practice. As each music educator has a unique background, each has something to bring to the table - to you - the music student.

This is a short list of some websites that I recommend to my students:

• The Bulletproof Musician

• The Musician's Blog

• The Collaborative Piano Blog

Check out Chris Foley's series, "31 Days to Better Practicing" on The Collaborative Piano Blog.