How to practice?
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2018 3:40 pm
My progress is ridiculously slow! So I thought maybe I'm not practicing efficiently.
Here's what I've been doing, as example #26 from the Darr (attached).
With both hands in position, I play melody (only) several times slowly, then increase speed until I can play the entire melody without looking at the fingers.
Now I set my right hand fingers on the accompaniment strings for the first chord - G). I play the chord (without melody) about ten times, until I can repeat it without looking at the fingers.
Then I do the second chord (in this case, D), same way. Then the G as written (once), then the D as written (once), then back and forth, then G, D, C, and back to G. Etc. But each change of chord only happens correctly if I look at my fingers to be sure they've moved to the right strings.
Should I be able to play those chords without looking at the strings? In other words, by "feel"? I'd sure like to, but it's not happening.
When I try combining melody with accompaniment, I stumble every few notes, trying to keep all fingers under control and in the right position over the melody strings and the written chords.
Help is appreciated! I can link a video if anyone asks, but it would be painful to watch.
How do you learn a new piece when you're just learning the techniques?
Thanks.
Tom M.
Here's what I've been doing, as example #26 from the Darr (attached).
With both hands in position, I play melody (only) several times slowly, then increase speed until I can play the entire melody without looking at the fingers.
Now I set my right hand fingers on the accompaniment strings for the first chord - G). I play the chord (without melody) about ten times, until I can repeat it without looking at the fingers.
Then I do the second chord (in this case, D), same way. Then the G as written (once), then the D as written (once), then back and forth, then G, D, C, and back to G. Etc. But each change of chord only happens correctly if I look at my fingers to be sure they've moved to the right strings.
Should I be able to play those chords without looking at the strings? In other words, by "feel"? I'd sure like to, but it's not happening.
When I try combining melody with accompaniment, I stumble every few notes, trying to keep all fingers under control and in the right position over the melody strings and the written chords.
Help is appreciated! I can link a video if anyone asks, but it would be painful to watch.
How do you learn a new piece when you're just learning the techniques?
Thanks.
Tom M.