Photo courtesy of Gaetan Lee

Keep your practice routine fresh

If you find that you are not improving as quickly as you like or that you are bored with your routine there are two things you can do.

Firstly really focus yourself on your current practice routine and try to complete this as well as you can with as much concentration as possible.

If this does not work, and assuming that you are concentrating when you practice you could try making a change to your routine. Making a change means that you will still cover the same areas as before (scales, studies, pieces etc). What you will do differently is to choose new exercises to practise. For example if you have been practising your major scales up and then down you could try doing them down then up or maybe in thirds. If you are practising fingering perhaps you could do some different patterns or different keys.

Photo courtesy of Thorne Enterprises

Try this method to crack those tricky sections.

Look through your piece and mark the tricky passages with a pencil. Next break these passages down into smaller sections. For example, a long run of semi-quavers can be broken down into groups of 4 semi-quavers, tricky intervals can be broken down into a collection of simpler ones. Mark these small sections with a pencil. Read More . . .

Photo courtesy of Foxtwo

A planned break will revitalise your playing.

There are a number of reasons why you may feel that you want to take a break. You may be tired after a period of hard work or you may be stuck on a particular technique or section of music and no matter how hard you practise you can't seem to master it.

If you are stuck on a piece or technique then you can change your routine to cover something else. However do put a date in your diary in a couple of weeks time when you will come back and try again at the bit you were stuck on. Read More . . .

Here"s how to make sure you are ready for any performance.

In the weeks before your performance plan to complete the following: Read More . . .

• Run your piece(s) from start to finish without stopping (at least 10 times).
• Run your performance at different times of day.
• Do a dress rehearsal in the same clothes and time as your performance.
• Play with your accompanist as many times as you can.
Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome
Your rating: None

Photo courtesy of Yannis

Being able to write down what you hear will help all aspects of your playing.

For this method you will need a way of playing music (CD or mp3 player).

Pick a piece of music. Any piece you like. Using your music player, listen very, very carefully to the music - try to pick up the pattern of the notes and rhythms. Listen to this section of music several more times until you can sing it note for note from memory.

Once you can do this take out a blank piece of paper and draw out a 'map' of the music. How many bars are in each section? Which instruments? What does the melody do? Any repeats? etc. Doing this will help to know where you are in the piece. Read More . . .

Photo courtesy of Stumbelina

Fix the cause of common mistakes.

For this method you will need a selection of pieces and a notepad.

Play through your music and each time you make a mistake stop and mark the music. Once you have finished one piece go onto the next. Try to pick a few pieces in different styles.

For each place you marked a mistake try to decide what caused that mistake. Was it fingering? How about embouchure or breathing? Once you have identified the cause add it to your list.

When you have finished listing the causes of your mistakes re-order them so that the most frequent are at the top of your list and the least frequent are at the bottom.

You can now focus your practice on the areas at the top of your list.

Photo courtesy of shaghaghi

This method will improve your all round ensemble and listening skills.

You will need a friend or a group of players for this method.

• Pick one person to be the leader.
• This person to pick a note to play.
• The rest of the group must copy exactly how the leader plays this note ie Loud, Soft, harsh, smooth etc.
• The leader picks a new note and the group must again follow exactly. Repeat this 5 times.
• Pick a new leader.
• Repeat.

If your group is getting good at this the leader could move onto playing more than one note for the rest of the group to follow. Make sure you listen very carefully. Is what you are playing exactly the same as everyone else?

Photo courtesy of aaardvaark

Reward yourself for good practice.

We all prefer to practise some things over others. The trick is to make sure you practise them all.

For this practice method you will begin by practising your least favourite thing first (don't tell me, it's scales isn't it?!). After this you will then move on to your next least favourite and so on.

When you have finished your practise you need to ask youself honestly if you have done a good practice session. If the answer is yes then treat yourself by playing your all time favourite piece.

Photo courtesy of purplepick

Simulating a performance situation when practising will stand you in good stead come the big day.

Invite some friends or family to attend a "mock" performance that you will give. They do not need to be musical at all - just ask them to write down some comments as you play (you could use the performance feedback forms for this).You can use these comments (good or bad) to help make your next performance even better.

As the performer you need to prepare yourself exactly as you would for your performance. This means you need to warm up properly, dress appropriately and play as if in a performance (ie play all your pieces from start to finish without stopping).

Do this a few times before your actual performance and you will be well prepared and more confident.

Photo courtesy of shutterclicks

Improve balance and appreciation for other members of your ensemble.

Pick one member of your group to be the leader - this person will not play for now.

• Find a chord or section of music for the rest of the group to play.
• The leader should alter the volume and tuning of individual members of the group until the think they have acheive a perfect balance.
• Pick a new leader. Find a new section of music.
• Repeat.

Everyone in a group must take responsibility for good balance. Taking time out to listen in this way free from the demands of your own playing will help improve balance for all of the group.