Klarinet Archive - Posting 000034.txt from 1999/10

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Practicing
Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 19:40:46 -0400

Tony Pay once again makes a terrific point:

<<<And above all, don't be intimidated by the BS of the 'hours' that someone
puts in. Rather, think of practising efficiently yourself. That someone
may not be using his or her time effectively. Indeed, a large proportion of
their practising effort may actually be counterproductive.>>>

I have a shameful confession to make. On occasion, I have been known to
dabble/double on (gasp!) trumpet. A few years ago, I went to a clinic held
by Allen Vizzuti--a truly stunning player. At the clinic, he explained
that one of the ADVANTAGES of playing trumpet was that your practice time is
limited to about four or five hours a day--forcing you to be more efficient.
String players and pianists, on the other hand, can and often do simply
waste time. (Perhaps this is one reason why orchestra rehearsals tend to be
the winds watching the strings practice!)

I was taught that the quality of practice time was far more important than
the duration. We practice to accomplish two basic goals: to (a) fix
problems and (b) commit note patterns to motor memory.

The key to fixing problems is not how much time you spend, but how quickly
and correctly you can analyze & diagnose the problem. Which note pair are
you fumbling? What is the physical problem you're having with the tongue?
Which note in the pattern is wrong"--and why? That's why you should start
slow, and break passages down to the simplest components; so you can
correctly see what the problem is. Practicing longer without analysis is
practicing mistakes--which is worse than not practicing at all. If you
practice mistakes, your motor memory needs to be unlearned!

"Learning a piece in a month"--what a concept. I direct your attention to
our brethren in the recording studios--oftentimes, they sight-read the take.
Rehearsal is minimal, practice rare.

I think I'll put in some time on scales tonight.

kjf

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