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 How Many Songs ?
Author: BGBG 
Date:   2017-05-25 20:17

I know this will widely vary, but I was curious as to too-few or too-many. I was wondering if players practice and play simple songs for 15 - 30 minutes, just how many songs do they attempt to go through in that time.
Like for example if have a song list of 20, then would it be advisable to rush through trying to get all 20, or maybe only 1 or two and attempting to get it very good. I feel sometimes I am too eager and do a bad job with unreasonably or unrealistically many. I am starting to think if trying to improve or perfect technique maybe one or two songs per 15 minutes would be more sensible than trying to race through a list one at a time and as many as can. So I was wondering what others do and think is adequate. I usually play very slowly so as correct as can be.

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 Re: How Many Songs ?
Author: johng 2017
Date:   2017-05-25 20:30

I think playing for fun is important and unless I have a deadline to perfect something I usually will play something I enjoy for part of my practice periods. It is all good since any amount of playing is productive. However, it is also an efficient use of time to practice for perfection. Just playing through things quickly can lead to developing bad habits that are difficult to fix later one. So, my answer is: yes/and.

John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com

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 Re: How Many Songs ?
Author: BGBG 
Date:   2017-05-26 00:51

I have concluded that playing through a series of songs rapidly as can to get them done with all the bad habits and mistakes can not be good. So even if never achieve perfection I have decided to slow down and play as few songs as perfectly as can would be better than trying to get through many songs badly.

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 Re: How Many Songs ?
Author: Fuzzy 
Date:   2017-05-26 02:31

Tim Laughlin quoted some advice given to him by Pete Fountain:
Quote:

"Try to get the prettiest sound you can get. People will listen to you all night.”
(This was in the March 2017 Jazztimes Magazine....which can be found here (at least right now) https://jazztimes.com/departments/farewells/tim-laughlin-remembers-pete-fountain/ )

I think this is great advice. No matter what you're doing - focus on your sound...make sure you're achieving the sound that you're looking for...or at least getting closer to the sound you're looking for.

I wanted a big, "fat" sound - so that's what I sought. Tonguing, embouchure, tone, etc. all fell into place (secondarily) of their own volition as I sought the desired sound.

The journey doesn't have to be painful.

;^)>>>
Fuzzy

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 Re: How Many Songs ?
Author: SarahC 
Date:   2017-05-29 04:35

Depends what your goal is.

If progress is your goal...

Well.. Then pick one piece at each level (I made my own version of a Suzuki style book if u want a copy emailed)
1. Memorise the first puece
2. Learn and memorise the second piece, while still practising the first piece listening to tone, and coordination.
3. Learn third piece and memorise, while still practiseling first two a few times through, listening to tone etc

And so on.

Once I reach the second book, then I don't play all the book one pieces anymore. But I work on one a day, refining it.

Everything by memory.

This is my strategy. It works for my students, and it has worked for me through multiple instruments :)

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 Re: How Many Songs ?
Author: BGBG 
Date:   2017-05-31 02:08

After reading many suggestions I have changed my approach. I put reed tip in plain water while assemble instrument then wipe it between fingers or lips and mount it on mouthpiece. No long and elaborate soaking, wiping, polishing. Instead of rushing through 45min-an hour's worth of songs making mistakes aplenty, I set metronome for 50 and play through one song slowly over and over trying to get all as perfect as I can. Even if it is only one song in a 30 minute practice. I use the next reed each day. When done I dip reed in 1/3 peroxide and 2 parts water then in plain water while I disassemble and put away. I find this much better and notice improvement.
A bit of trouble though going from a 1/8 A4 to a 1/16 B4 or C5 even at slow speed for it is quick. So I try practice only those notes a few times to improve the fingering.
It seems to go slower but I find the results much better than too many songs and too much fiddling around with mechanics, though to a degree that is necessary. Better to do a few songs well than many with errors.

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