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Re: Okay, so it's only at 60--but I couldn't play it at all yesterday (for JohnT

Author: EaubeauHorn
Date: 2008-05-16 16:43

One other technique I've used for complex finger patterns is the "back to front" technique, once again used on the difficult passages. I also use it to learn an entire new piece. I developed this technique for classical guitar, migrated it to piano, but it works for any instrumental passage that is giving the player fits.

The technique is simple but must be followed exactly. I can be combined with the metronome technique if desired.

Start with the last few notes of the phrase in question, and play those few notes until you have them perfectly. I do mean perfectly, rote, without thought. Then add a few notes in front of the last few notes. Say the first section consisted of the last three notes, then the next step would be the last six notes. Work your way backwards through the passage or piece this way. What this technique does is to counteract our desire to keep going through a piece or a passage once we start playing it, and it can circumvent grooving a fumble-fingers methodology.

I first used this to learn a Bach piece on classical guitar, and I was astonished to learn it (one page) in a single sitting, well enough to reproduce accurately the next day. It would have taken me "forever" to learn it by going from front-to-back. The front-to-back way always has you knowing the beginning of the piece better than the end. The back-to-front way has you knowing the piece better and better as you play it, once you have it learned.

The only disconcerting thing about this method is that the musicality of the piece can go to the background while you're learning it physically, but after the hands know the piece, it can then be practiced front-to-back in order to get the musicality in place.

EBH

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