Started lessons, have questions

[italk2planes]

Hi all,

I started taking lessons and am wondering how I can work more efficient/effectively.

So far, just 3 lessons. Late beginner-early intermediate. Should I be aiming to have the piece(s) that she assigns down pat by next lesson?  So far she has had me spend an extra week on the pieces while adding 1 or 2 more.

A big problem I am having is she wants me to READ music. I am in a rut where when learning a song I end up playing more by ear and memorization than reading the notes. Especially bass clef. What are ways to rectify this? Should I buy a sight reading book and just work on it that way?

[sucom]

While it may work initially memorising bass clef notes in easier pieces, it becomes more difficult as the pieces increase in difficulty.  Sight reading is always going to help but I would suggest practising with hands separately until you know both equally well and then put your hands together, keeping your eyes firmly on the music as you go.

I had a student who tried memorising the bass clef in the way you describe and it really wasn't helpful to him at all.  It becomes easier to read across both the treble and bass clefs together the more you practice.

Don't give up trying!  You WILL succeed if you keep practising.

[sucom]

I forgot to answer your other question about the number of pieces you should practise.  It is more useful to have two or three pieces on the go together than practising just one piece.  Sometimes I hear my students say they have only practised one piece because they wanted to progress further on it, or 'get it off pat' as you mentioned.

However, I don't feel this is the best way forward.  The more pieces you practise, the more finger flexibility you gain which will actually help you with any other pieces you are learning. And each piece will have its own technical issues to overcome so you will in effect be learning various techniques in each practise session.