What is the best way to practice a song?

[lordnishka]

Whenever I get to a new piece, I just forget everything I learned from the previous piece. I have to repeat the same bar line over and over again very slowly to finally understand it, then do the same thing for the next bar. In other words it takes very long amounts of time to learn a new piece in my music book.

Does anyone else have this problem? I want to know if it is normal to struggle so much on every new piece whether it is easy or difficult.

[bronnestam]

How long have you played the piano?
I remember it was like that when I was a beginner, but over the years I learned that there are so many patterns that are repeated and reused maaany many times, and of course they are quite easy when you see them for the 10th time. At least much easier than they were the first time.

If the piece is not super-elementary you should start practicing HS until you can play in tempo with a minimum of mistakes. One little trick is that you learn slowly at first, of course, but you practice, right from the beginning, the habit of moving your hands very fast, so that they are "in position" in good time before you press the next key.

Also try to pinpoint (early) the sections/bars that are most difficult, and work with them first, rather than beginning from the beginning ... Make sure you pay special attention to the END, because it is better for your nerves to feel secure near the end, rather than playing the whole piece in agony for the particularly difficult end chord ...  

[gyzzzmo]

If you want to practice a song, you best start with basic singing excercises to warm up your voice

[pianoyutube]

I think that's THE QUESTION. A lot of information has been given in this forums. And there are very different ideas about it. Here you have a very interesting thread to spend some time reading:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=12590.0

[perprocrastinate]

If you want to practice a song, you best start with basic singing excercises to warm up your voice

Every time. I love this forum.

[kakeithewolf]

Through extreme repetition, most anything is possible.

[gregh]

I'd say that's nothing unusual. It helps if you can sing it, then play what you hear instead of trying to remember little dots on paper or something. But I've worked on little things before, over and over until I liked how they sound, and two hours later I couldn't even hum it. It comes back, and eventually sticks. But I have to keep coming back to it day by day.

Maybe this will help.

https://www.bulletproofmusician.com/why-the-progress-in-the-practice-room-seems-to-disappear-overnight/

[faulty_damper]

OP, you need to learn to improvise.  It seems you are only getting your instruction from the sheet music, hence the slow, repetitive process.

Also, I disagree that you need to warm up your voice.  Just start singing to warm up.  I find vocal exercises a complete waste of time since it can tire out the voice before you actually sing a real note.  It's kind of like how you shouldn't warm up a car because it just wastes fuel.  The fastest way to warm it up is to start driving immediately after you start the engine.

[keypeg]

I doubt that the OP came on this forum to ask about singing.  If so, then the appropriate place would be a forum for vocalists.  Many novices to piano say "song" when they mean "piece".

[gyzzzmo]

I doubt that the OP came on this forum to ask about singing.  If so, then the appropriate place would be a forum for vocalists.  Many novices to piano say "song" when they mean "piece".

Seriously?