Here are some ways to improve your practice routine for learning musical instruments. I hope this inspires a fellow hobbyist to try something new!
Breathing
Breathing is important for time keeping. It can help you keep your rhythm by synchronizing your breathing tempo/pattern with the tempo of the music. Normally when I play I don’t concentrate on my breathing. That's why I practice by playing a simple beat on a drum set while focusing on matching my breathing to the tempo. It will become customary for you to synchronize your breathing if you practice that sort of exercise every other day.
Posture
Posture has a different effect when playing different instruments. For example, when playing on a drum-set one has to sit because it is very inconvenient to hit the base pedal while standing. When playing congas or bongos though, it doesn’t make such a large difference. One instrument that could be described as being in the center of these extremes would be the guitar. Usually, it's easier to play while sitting, because one can lean over and see the neck in an easier fashion. While standing it is much harder to see the frets on the neck, which ultimately makes it a bit harder.
When I practice piano or drums I try to be aware of my posture. Sometimes I find myself sitting in a very unhealthy position, which makes my back hurt and stops me from being as agile while playing. For that reason I normally try to sit straight. This also gives better stage presence while performing.
Warm-up
Warm-ups help prepare your muscles for unusual strain. Warming your muscles allows you to move them faster, with more control and with less effort. They also stop you from hurting yourself while playing a physically difficult piece. Even though I don’t have any official warm up routines, I usually start with easier pieces and gradually work my way towards the more physically challenging songs. It would be better for me to get warm-up exercises that are specifically designed for that job, but that's for each individual to decide.
Practice Routine
The way I usually approach a new piece is by listening to it first because it allows me to know how it sounds. Right after that I tackle the first bars of the piece and practice them until I can play them without much thought. Then I practice four or eight bars after that. I repeat this process until I finish the whole piece. It doesn’t take as long as it sounds because songs tend to recycle melodies and chord structures. I gage my progress by comparing my current mastery of the song with how I played it a week ago. If the song feels easier and sounds better because I have included and worked on the dynamics I can tell that I’ve improved.
I don't usually sit down at a set time on a set day. I tend to practice when I feel that I have the need to practice, or when I simply feel like it. Obviously this creates a rather irregular pattern, and probably is not the most efficient way of improving. It's suitable for my situation though, because at the end of the day I only play instruments because they're fun. The entertaining aspect of practicing is most important to me.
Reading Music
There are many ways to improve note reading. To start off simply, you can learn from a piano player’s starter’s book with very simple songs. Eventually you can move on to more difficult pieces which are more challenging to read. The key to reading is repetition. It's like learning a new language; without practice you'll never master it.
The same rules apply for rhythms. Start with simple grooves that don't vary in pitch, and eventually move on to transcribing complicated solos. Again, repetition is key.
Reading music benefits you by providing an avenue to learn songs in a more straight-forward manner. It allows one musician to interpret what another musician played, or to remember what you just came up with.
Learning new techniques
Here's a little algorithm that I follow when learning new techniques.
· Find out about finger or hand techniques on the guitar or drums (i.e. molar technique)
· Attempt and test
· Repeat what you just learned
· Increase the tempo
· Repeat
· Apply the technique to harder and more complicated songs/pieces/grooves
· Did I mention repetition yet?
The easiest way to approach a difficult section is by slowing it down. Slowing things down helps, because it allows you to think about what you're playing. Slowing things down is the first thing I do when I realize that what I'm learning is too confusing or difficult.
Hopefully these tips help you improve your own routine. Please comment below if you have any questions!
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