Practising with a Custom-made CD Backing Track

[mousekowski]

I've been practicing some of Moszkowski's Op72 Studies recently using a home-made CD backing track. I was wondering if anybody else had tried anything similar.

1. Download a MIDI file of the piece you are learning. www.classicalarchives.com and www.kunstderfugue.com are good sources.
2. Open Sibelius and use 'Open MIDI file' to open the piece up as a score.
3. Delete the tempo markings and chop out the difficult passages you want to practice. It is a good idea to mark these passages in your sheet music so that you know which bits to practice when you're listening to the finished CD.
4. Delete the LH if you want to practice the RH.
5. Save these fragments as MIDI files using 'Export MIDI File'
6. Using Band in a Box, open one of the fragments. You then have the option to change the tempo, loop it and make it gradually speed up.
7. Convert the fragments to mp3 files and burn them on to a CD. The mp3 files are very bulky, so you could either delete them or store them on a 250GB memory stick.
8. Play along with the CD five or six times.

The biggest advantage I find is that  this method of practice helps me concentrate for 60 or 70 minutes at a time and focus on a single objective. Otherwise, practising with a CD backing track has similar advantages and disadvantages to practicing hands separately with a metronome.

The following mp3 file is an example. It is a backing track for the RH to practice the first four bars of the Moszkowski Study in Ab Op72 No11.

[penguinlover]

I haven't tried this, but it sounds interestnig.  I have played with an accompianment tape, which is a bit different than a live band. Your timing has to be perfect for that.  I will check out that site, thanks.

[landru]

Yes, I've done this for getting a handle on rhythm problems at the beginning of learning a piece - it really cuts down a LOT of trial and error for intricate (for me anyway) areas.

My method though is just to hand enter the score into a notation program (Cakewalk for years, but now I use Lilypond), and then export to a midi. I make different tracks for different areas of focus, and for each area I make several of different metronome markings - from very, very slow to about 3/4 finished speed. When I'm at 3/4 speed, I usually don't need the help.

After I've created the tracks, I burn the CD and then play along with it on a portable CD player at my piano. For me this method is really only for getting the rhythm down - dynamics, fingering, rubato and all the other issues can't really be helped by this method because it so individual and it is so hard to notate it for a midi! Besides, your interpretation might change from day to day so why hard code it and who wants to sound like a midi? But all in all, it is a valuable tool for me.

[mousekowski]

I'm interested in how other people create their own backing tracks. Yeah, I agree that it is most beneficial in the early stages of learning a piece. I find it provides a very secure foundation from which I can go on and do hands together practice.

[kitty on the keys]

Mousekowski---I am a teacher and try to add more tech to my studio. I teach in a Yamaha store and have use of the Clavanova keyboard----great for teaching. I am facinated by what you are doing to learn your pieces. I think this would be great to use for my students as well. I do record the pieces for the kids---and change the temp on the clave----omit tracks--for left and right work. Any more ideas would be great!!

Kitty on the keys

[richard black]

Sounds utterly bizarre to me. What on earth is supposed to be the point of that?

[kitty on the keys]

Richard Black----You need to go to a Yamaha dealer and see what a Clavanova can do.  It is a great instrument---not meant to replace the piano --but to enhance it. It makes practicing and music making so much fun---which some people have trouble understanding---yes piano practice can and should be fun!

Kitty on the keys

[richard black]

Oh, fine, I can see where practising in that sort of way on a synth keyboard could be fun for small kiddies but by the time you get to Moszkowski - and with a CD???

[mousekowski]

Hi Richard Black - you sound sceptical, but you really should try it! This practice technique could be used for beginners, but it works equally well for experienced players. Suppose you've imported your 16 bar LH MIDI file into Band in a Box, you can loop it and also make the speed increase (e.g by half a metronome notch at a time), every repitition, or every three repititions or whatever you want.

Let's say you were trying to speed up a Chopin study. There is pretty wide agreement that the best way to do this is to work hands separately with a metronome, gradually notching up the speed. Using a CD backing track is a very convenient way to do this - you don't have to keep adjusting the metronome for a start. I'm not claiming that it is BETTER method than using a metronome, it's just an idea that works for me.

[richard black]

Suppose you've imported your 16 bar LH MIDI file into Band in a Box, you can loop it and also make the speed increase (e.g by half a metronome notch at a time), every repitition, or every three repititions or whatever you want.

I claim no unusual skills as a musician but I think I'm capable of learning on my own after a third of a century of practice, thanks very much. In fact I think I was capable of it after 2 lessons, since my dear old teacher was one of those who never wasted her time teaching kids the notes.

[gerryjay]

dear mouse:
assuming that you will not try to sell me anything (), i must say that i used this kind of approach very much in chamber works, specially in those parts of difficult group co-ordination, such as multi-part stretti or contemporary pieces, and it works fine for me. however, i never did find any use for that in solo repertory.

anyway, there are so many study techniques that i'll not surprise myself if you use that for good with your solo repertory. let me give one word of warning: as with metronome, it can easily put your ears in plaster, and transform your playing in an absolutely mechanic process.

best!

[mousekowski]

Interesting about the chamber music. I was considering doing a CD for the Mendelssohn D minor Piano Trio.

I know what you mean about putting your ears in plaster. You've got me a bit worried. What can I do to pamper my ears? (apart from not using backing tracks!) Are you talking about aural training? I do record myself practicing from time to time.

[gerryjay]

dear mouse:
in spite of the fact that aural training is essential, i'm not talking about that. the danger of this practice (the same of metronome practice, btw) is to remove your brain from the task of controlling what you are doing, and let your hand alone, so to speak.
the point is: when you don't have any external support, you must know what is happening when you play, and thus focus to control speed, and so on. if you have a back track, and you play in the correct speed and volume, it's very easy to do it without any concentration, what can be destructive to your ears (and to your technique as well).
perhaps, the real question is: what are you looking for when you rehearse? if the answer is not "the musical result", something is very wrong, imho. then, the use i have to that kind of help: metronome to control speed development or to help keep the beat, back track to solve a particular musical problem. the danger come when you use your back track, and your goal turns into accompany your back track...

just a final word about recording: essential.

best!