A Brief Guide to Slow
Practice
by Gary Dahl
I decided when I started teaching thirty-seven years ago,
each student would be required to demonstrate "slow practice tempos" in
selected sections of a piece assigned a week earlier. At first, these
tempos are rather like slow-motion and gradually increase only when the
skill level is ready. I have never regretted this decision because
it has produced many confident, satisfied accordionists.
What are the benefits of this kind of practicing?
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The student actually learns the piece faster, having had
time to read the correct notes, time values, dynamics, etc..
-
Performance slips are greatly reduced. A slip is not
a mistake. A mistake is playing the same wrong notes at every performance,
while an occasional slip sometimes just happens.
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Slow practice eliminates practice mistakes. Why should
we practice a mistake? Not too logical, is it?
-
Control, especially in fast, rhythmic pieces is much more
secure. This is especially true in long scale-like passages.
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Because dynamics are exaggerated in slow practice, they retain
their color at tempo.
-
Slow practice and many repetitions of short passages is essential
to increase learning speed and eliminate mistakes.
There are many more points I could list, but these are the
basics. Together with slow practice, there are many techniques to
explore. Occasionally my students think I am some sort of psychic
because I can tell immediately if they have not done their slow practice. |
If it is a fairly new piece, the fingers
are searching everywhere for the notes. Slow practice will enable
you to learn quickly while fast practice will produce very slow results
or none at all. Slow practice is not particularly fun, but it is
part of the discipline we must observe. I tell my students I am not
asking them to slow practice because it is fun, in fact it can be boring.
You have to bleed a little, pay the price to realize exciting benefits.
You can't learn anything in your sleep.
To the Adult Student: Music is for all to
enjoy, both for listening pleasure and the thrill of playing the accordion.
Music is a way of expressing ourselves. Many people would give anything
to play an instrument with authority. Don't let your age get you
down. It is literally true: You are never too old to learn.
Many adults are happier now and getting more out of life through music...personal
enjoyment and the experience of being the "life of the party".
Adult students will learn more at lessons using
these suggestions:
-
Make believe you are 10 years old again. Forget pre-conceived
ideas.
-
Don't talk too much-concentrate on listening.
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Let the teacher lead with the best sequence for you to reach
your particular goals.
-
Don't let your ego get in the way, even if you are an experienced
player.
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Study harmony to dramatically enhance your current skills.
You will then be able to produce your own arrangements - and this is where
the real fun is!
-
Don't try to pick pieces way beyond your capability.
It is always better to play a less difficult piece well than a more advanced
selection sloppily; just experience the pleasure of high-quality music-making!
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