The Slider

Here's another way to practice a small section of music.  You can use this method for no more than one line, one phrase, or one "circle" (refer to the article "Circles" to learn why a circle is two measures).

Once you select the small section you are going to practice, you will need a piece of paper, or something the size of a piece of paper like a magazine or small binder.  This will be known as "The Slider".

Place the slider over your music so it completely covers the line you are going to learn.  Now slide it to the right just enough so that it uncovers the first count of your line.  The reason I say first "count" instead of first "note" is because sometimes two eighth notes or three triplets make up one count, and it can cause pauses in your rhythm if you learn each of them separately.  So, we learn one count at a time - in both hands.  Of course, if the piece is really difficult, learn hands separately, even while using the Slider.

Now play the first count perfectly three times.  If you get it perfect on your first three times, great!  If it takes you 9 or 10 times to get three perfect ones, then so be it.  Be patient and make sure you have it really perfect.

Once you are comfortable with the first count, move the Slider to the right just enough to uncover the second count.  Then play both the first and second count until you can play them three times perfectly.

Then repeat the process - moving the Slider to uncover one count at a time, and playing everything you have learned up to the Slider perfectly three times.

Ta Da!  You have one line, or section of your music perfect!  When you come back to practice tomorrow, review what you learned today, and then go ahead and get another line perfect.

Here's another trick you can do with the Slider.  It can help you memorize your line of music.  This time start with the entire line uncovered, and the Slider to the right side of the music.  Play the line (of course, without mistakes).  Then move the Slider to the left so it covers up the last count.  Play the line again.  Move the Slider again to cover one more count.

You will have to remember one more count each time you play through the line until the Slider finally covers the entire line, and you can play it memorized!

Happy Practicing!

~Connie~
The Piano University for Kids

"Circles" Step Two

In "Circles" Step One, I talked about how to break up the piece into small sections of only two measures and draw a circle around it.  Then we looked for circles that matched, or nearly matched.  After doing that, there are usually only four or five "circles" that need to be learned.  If you practice one "circle" per day, you would learn the entire song perpectly in just under a week - just in time for your next lesson!

Now I will teach you exactly how to practice a "Circle".

First of all, you have to block out the rest of the music and only learn that one circle.  This kind of focus is really the whole point of this method of practicing, so if you let your attention wander to the rest of the piece, you are defeating the purpose.

Now you are ready to follow these steps to get your "circle" perfect.

1.  Practice the Right Hand alone until you can play it two times in a row PERFECTLY.

2. Practice the Left Hand alone until you can play it two times in a row PERFECTLY.

3. Practice hands together:

• Get all the notes perfect two times in a row.
• Keep all the notes perfect and add counting the rhythm out loud while you play it - 2 times perfectly
• Keep the notes and rhythm perfect and add in getting all the fingering correct - 2 times perfectly
• Keep notes, rhythm, and fingering perfect, and add in dynamics - 2 times perfectly
• Find the metronome speed that matches how you just played it.  Play it once with the metronome.
• Move the metronome up a notch or two (no more than five numbers, ie 60 to 65). Play it once at the new higher speed.  
• Move the metronome up another notch or two four more times.  Play it once at each new speed.
• Now close the music book and play your "circle" from memory three times.

Ta da!!!  You're done with that circle.  It is learned.  It is perfect. And it is even memorized!  

I know this looks like a lot of work, but it probably took me longer to type it out than it does to actually do it.  This whole process should only take about two minutes. The circle is so short (only two measures) that it only takes five to ten seconds to play through it.  

So if you practice for twenty minutes a day (the amount I recommend for my own students), you will be able to learn TEN circles every day.  If you are in beginning music books, you can probably learn ten pieces per week.  Your teacher will be absolutely beside herself with joy!

HAPPY PRACTICING!