Re: How do you practice? (beginner)

MWC expounded in news:1194319040.485939.156940
@z9g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

....
You will find that you do better some days than others - you will
learn more and enjoy it more on the "good" days, so take advantage if
you can and keep going when you are into it.

Definitely. For me, this tends to occur in the morning (after coffee(s)),
but unfortunately this is not often possible (for me). However, when you
can, I think its great because you tend to feel tired and cranky at the
end of the day (my normal time of practice). However, my determination
keeps me plugging through..

Also, sometimes you can
go a long time feeling like you're making no progress, then all of a
sudden, you'll "get it." So practicing in a consistent way helps, as
long as you stay motivated over the longer term - it's ok to take a
break now and then and you'll likely be more interested after a day
off.

Motivation is certainly important. The reality is that it won't always be
there, so some breaks are inevitable-- in my experience at least. But try
to keep breaks short-- I try never to miss more than a day (2 days max).
Otherwise I won't have much progress to show for on the next weekly
lesson. Sometimes, I'll just practice in a shorter session, if I get
extra cranky on a given week night. Often things go better the next
night.

Ask your teacher about your technique, but I wouldnt worry too much
about where your thumb is - focus on smooth chord changes and how it
sounds

This is soo important. I know there are a lot of folks out there learning
on their own. But a teacher will observe those little technique issues
and give good advice on how to overcome that.

An example of this perhaps is a finger-picking technique issue that I am
working through right now. I had picked a classical "Study" among others
for my exam coming up in January. I learned the song ok, and its not
particularly difficult when played at lower tempos. However, I noticed
that the tempo I am required to play this at is high enough that my
technique is falling apart badly. My teacher to the rescue. If my memory
serves, the material is something like this (16th notes I think):

-O-

----------O-------------------O------|
-------O-----O---------O---------O---|
-------------------------------------|
----O-----------O---------O--------O-|
-------------------------------------|

-O-

p i m a m i a m i a m i
> > >
C G C E C G G C G ...

Basically, this is easy until you try to do the ami ami at higher tempos.
If I had been left on my own, I'd be practicing this forever, over and
over again, ad nauseum until I either figured it out on my own or gave up
on it (more likely).

A teacher can tell you that one approach to this ami issue is to do a
"rest stroke" with the a finger, and then follow through with the mi with
free strokes (if preferred). Additionally, the thumb (p) can rest on the
D string (in this case) and serve as an anchor. Anchoring helps with a
cleaner ima leading up to the ami ami.

[Beginners note: The "rest stroke" is where you pick the string and allow
your finger to 'rest' on the next string in the pick direction. A "free
stroke" is where you pick the string and keep the picking finger from
touching the next string, usually by raising]

Doing the "rest stroke" for the a finger, gives you a kind of anchoring
and at the same time sets you up for the other finger picks without much
hand movement. Now of course, this requires some hand "posturing" to make
it smoother and getting the tension just right-- something I haven't
quite got right yet.

Without a teacher I wouldn't know what I was doing wrong unless by blind
luck I came across good advice somewhere. I can already see some
improvement and how this advice will eventually lead to much improved
technique.. as long as I struggle through with this until it becomes
automatic and effortless.

The best advice I ever got from this group is "get a teacher". I know its
not always possible, but I think it is golden advice.

Snark.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

.

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