Over last few weeks I’ve upped the practice hours. I normally try for about 7 – 10 hours a week. Recently I’ve been racking that up to about 20. Yes, there was some unusual times with the digital piano and headphones on.
Practice sessions don’t always have to be about pressing keys. One of the things I’ve been doing recently is recording myself, listening back and analysing what I hear.
Everyone is their own worst critic. Recordings are a great, and often humbling way, of analysing your music and looking for places where improvements can be made.
When you first start recording yourself it will probably be quite stressful unless you’re already a seasoned performer. Don’t worry about that though. The more you record yourself, the more comfortable you’ll become with it.
Once you’re past that stage, it’s time to start watching back what you’ve played. Don’t just play the video back. Grab a copy of your score and start marking it up. If you don’t like writing directly on to your score then make a copy of it (or 2…. or 3 or more).
When you’re watching yourself start to put things in like mistakes you’d like to work on, new voicing you would like to try, there might be places you’re rushing or going too slow. Of course, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for sections that sound great. As humans we’re terrible for abusing ourselves and not celebrating small victories.
In your next practice session, take your notes you’ve made and start to work on your new ideas. You’ll notice significant imrpovements over time.
Always remember…. it’s very humbling listening to yourself. Take this as an opportunity for growth.