We've had a number of questions this week about the best way to get good marks in an exam. The questions below from one young lady are typical of others we've received. I'm posting the exchange in the hope that it will be of use to all those others preparing for exams in the near future.

I have been aware of the Gane name for many years having met and used the trombone tutors by Peter Gane. Those books are excellent and I was looking for more of the same from Patricia.

The book comes in a very useable format - A4 in size and spiral bound so that it will open and stay flat on the music stand. The layout and design are clear and straightforward - though with modern printing techniques I always like to see some colour as this helps to highlight important points. There are numerous useable musical examples and to her credit Patricia Gane makes many of the pages available for photocopying - a must when teaching larger groups of students.

The introduction to the book covers some basics on the role of students, teachers and lessons in general. A line I particularly liked was "the lesson should be about much more than rectifying problems", a thought which follows the ethos of this site - use the time between lessons for problem solving.

I'm very excited about this article, our first guest post. Normally I don't consider guest posts on this site as I have so much material I want to share myself. In the case of the article below I have made an exception. The information Jim McCarthy shares here is so relevant and to the point that I just had to share it. If you are a music student or teacher this is a MUST READ. Watch the videos then read the articles - your practice will benefit.

Be sure to check out Jim's site at: http://drum-clinic.com/. Or perhaps subscribe to his newsfeed at Feedburner. Finally why not check out his book for percussionists at StickTechnique.com.

The Science of Practicing a Musical Instrument - How long and How often.

There is a type of musician that has very good intentions around practice. They enjoy their lessons, listen attentively to their teacher and are enthusiastic about playing. Their problem lies in not practising the right things. The teacher describes what they need to do, they've read this site and yet still they have problems. Put simply they have a mind like a sieve - lots of information goes in but it doesn't stay there. Does this sound like you??

Whilst people are naturally able to remember things to different degrees there are things you can do to help yourself. It is also useful to understand the ways in which humans learn best and the methods of instruction you can use to put information firmly and permanently in your brain.

Take a look at the diagram. You will see a number of different ways of learning along with how much of what you are being shown/told you will remember afterwards.

This is the first in a series of clips dealing with the often neglected subject of music practice. In this first episode we introduce our 'Music Practice Diary'.

Whilst the video will not win any Oscars soon it will give you a much better idea of the concept and use of the Music Practice Diary.

Enjoy your practice!