Dynamics

p mf ff sf > pp

So many people just ignore them.

Maybe you do as well?

Varying degrees of loudness.

All the extras that give our music intensity and shape.

What helps our music make sense.

The interesting features.

Without them our music is likely to be dull.

Like reading aloud with no expression in your voice.

So come on, be dramatic and add the dynamics!

I'll hold onto the roof when it gets really loud. Hz

Sit back and listen

Practising done for today?

Good work.

How about you finish your day doing what I love most?

Simply sit back and listen to some music.

Switch the radio on to a music station.

Maybe you could choose one you don't normally listen to?

Pick a disc at random from the shelf.

Or maybe the library shelf?

Switch your iPod to shuffle and press play.

You might be pleasantly surprised.

Guess what I'm about to do? Hz

No stopping - for any reason

I know that you know.

You keep leaving a gap in that piece.

It's where you stop and have a think.

Where you can't find the next notes in time.

Sometimes, you grind to a halt right there and leave the room.

Take heart - try only the pesky group of notes as slowly as you can.

Check the fingering or placing on your instrument first.

Move smoothly between each note.

Replace the rhythm, still playing slowly.

Speed up a little each time.

Bravo - finish your session by playing a favourite piece. Hz

Sounds like

Curious about what you sound like?

You could record a piece you play well.

One of these will do -

a mobile phone, a computer, a video recorder,

an old Dictaphone or tape recorder.

Find someone to press the buttons for you.

Do a trial run first, then go for it.

Listen back with a sense of generosity.

Write the date on the recording and put it away.

Listen back in a year's time and see how you've progressed.

You might be surprised. And it might be fun. Hz

362 times?

362 times might be enough for one day!

I know, your teacher said to keep trying that bad bit.

Well, your Mother is being driven insane by your endless repetitions.

The dog is hiding under that prickly shrub in the garden.

And after hearing you, I'm saying - THAT'S ENOUGH FOR NOW!

With a bad bit

try to play it so that it improves each time

and then discover how it fits with the rest of the piece.

Don't ever be satisfied with messy or mindless work.

Aim to do it well.

Remember - good practising can save you lots of time. Hz

Sounds I like

Tapping away on the computer keyboard.

Crickets chirruping in the twilight meadow.

A log fire crackling into light.

The window cleaner's tuneless whistling.

The zing of a Jaw's Harp.

Rain - when I am snug indoors.

The purr of a happy cat.

Someone sawing wood.

Next door's Harley, revving up.

Waves crashing in.

Best of all after a day's work - peace and quiet!

What are you favourite sounds? Hz

Doing it well

Ready to try something new in your practising this week?

How about you do your work as well as you possibly can each time?

Every scale.

Every exercise.

Every part of every piece?

Paying attention to making the most beautiful sound you can make.

See, a lot of the time, we make do with the minimum.

We think of other things while we work and then rush out the door at the end.

Sounds like someone released from jail.

With a bit of extra effort, we can transform our work.

Guess what? You'll feel so much better about it. Hz

Pick a line

Want to check if that piece is ready to play to your teacher?

Try this game called Pick a line.

Level 1 - Pick a line from your piece.

See if you can play it at the correct speed with no mistakes.

If you make a mistake, you get one more chance - start the line again.

Don't carry on and play the rest of the piece.

Note which lines need more careful work.

Leave out the easy lines and do what you need to do instead.

When you've worked on the tricky lines, try on another day.

Level 2 - play again but this time link up several lines, say 4, 2, 7.

Same rules.

Level 3 - play the whole piece beautifully in the right order.

If you make a mistake GAME OVER.

Try again tomorrow.

It might be tricky at first, but remember to have FUN! Hz

That playlist

Got a piece ready?

Great!

Now we need to keep it on the boil.

Remember to try it a couple of times a week, straight through.

Listen carefully to make sure you are making a good sound.

You might want to start a list in your notebook.

You might want to keep a playlist pile you can find easily.

But more important than that - find an opportunity to play it.

This could be to your teacher, a friend, someone in your family.

Start small and see how it goes.

Bet they love it. Hz

Playlist

How about another small aim?

Once you have finished a piece you like, how about adding it to a playlist?

What this means is that over time, you will develop a repertoire.

This is a good thing for all sorts of reasons, like.....

You could play to Aunt Bertha when she comes round for tea.

You could perform at the charity fundraiser.

You will have audition pieces ready to play for the band/orchestra/show.

You can have a jam with friends. (More about jamming in another post.)

So, choose a finished piece or 2 that you really like.

At the END of your practising session, have a play of it aiming for no blips.

This is what we are really aiming for. It's so good to play it all in the right order, but only when you can DO it. Hz

Recognize it?

See if you can recognize this.

I know, it's tough, but see how you go.

La la lalala laa de de de de dum

La la lalala laa hum a zummmmm

La la laa *!^£)$:"?! aghhhhhh ?(±|>±

La la lalala great big 4 bars of total silence

La la lalala laa hum hum hum hum ZUMMMMM

Yes - it was your unique version of that gorgeous piece your teacher gave you.

Homework this week - work on ONLY lines 3 and 4 until you can play them without mistakes.

THEN, try placing them back where they belong and have a run through.

Hey! It's not nice to swat at wildlife.

Listening in

I've heard some interesting music this week.

Can you hear how things are starting to progress?

A couple of weeks back in your routine and it's improving.

Makes everyone happy.

How it's meant to be.

So, how about spending a little more time on your scales?

And that little exercise your teacher asked you to do?

All these things will help you improve your sound.

Even just a few more minutes on them each day.

Bet you soon start hearing the difference. 

Go on. Happy practising. Hz