Practice Mistakes You May Be Making

When starting something new it's hard to ensure that we are doing everything 'right' and often we pick up some bad habits. So here are some common practice errors that I see students make and how to avoid them!

The first thing to remember is to be aware of what you are doing, even the smallest thing can make a huge difference to your practice.

LOCATION

How many of you practice in a small room with a closed door? There's a problem with this. In small rooms, we tend to play more quietly because it doesn't require much to fill the space with sound. This leads to the bad habit of using minimal air, preventing us from fully utilizing the instrument's potential! Try practicing outside, in a large open room, or even experiment with rooms that have soft furnishings like carpet and couches compared to hard surfaces like tiles. You'll be amazed at the difference in your sound and volume! It's all due to the acoustics of the room.

MUSIC STAND & POSTURE

How many of us have practiced without a music stand, haphazardly balancing a piece of music against something (e.g. a pillow on your bed?). Without a music stand you are destined for bad posture which can affect your breathing, sound and become very uncomfortable! If you're bending forward and not sitting up straight you aren't able to use your lungs properly and therefore won't be able to create the best possible sound. Plus, by leaning forward, your back and neck can get painful! My tip? Make sure you have a music stand and set yourself up with good posture, sitting at the front of a chair, back straight or standing!

TENSION

When we get nervous or stressed about playing something, the first thing we do is tense. Lifting the shoulders, tension in the neck, closing off the mouth and really tightening a lot of muscles. The issue with this is that by tightening all these muscles, the air can't get out and we squish the sound or tone. A lot of people aren't even conscious of the fact that they're tense! My solution; start your practice with long notes. It's a good way to relax and really focus on your sound and what you're doing with your body and then do a bit of an audit of your body to determine where you are holding tension and mindfully relax your body. Another exercise is harmonics - these force you to relax the throat!

BENEFITS OF ENSEMBLE PLAYING

How many of you always play alone, just you, your instrument, and your music? While this can be productive, it may also limit your progress. Playing with others in a band or ensemble, or even along with a backing track, can significantly enhance your playing. You gain valuable skills such as intonation, listening, ensemble coordination, and balance, among others.

**Additional tip - When using a backing track, ensure it is played at a high volume. Playing it through your phone or laptop is ineffective if your playing overpowers it! Use a portable speaker to amplify the music. This will help you hear the track clearly and learn to play at higher volumes.

LISTENING

Pay attention to yourself and the pieces you're studying. Many students, myself included, dislike recording their performances. However, this practice is incredibly beneficial as it allows you to view your playing from a different perspective. It can be uncomfortable, somewhat surprising, and significantly enlightening, but it also boosts your confidence if you do it over a few weeks and observe the progress! Another important aspect of listening is to hear other people's interpretations and performances of the pieces you're learning. This can greatly inform your own performance and provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of the piece.

If you have any questions about online lessons or would like to do your first trial lesson, get in contact with me today!

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