How to Practice?

[ryankmfdm]

 Hey, everyone. New member here. I was hoping to pick your brains a little about how you practice--specifically how you keep a hold on your repertoire.

 A little background about me, I'm mostly self-taught, and would say I'm a late beginner who is perhaps just starting to crack into the early intermediate bracket. What I've generally been doing is just focusing on one or two key signatures per day. I'll warm up with some scales (standard, in octaves, and in thirds), next some arpeggios, then I'll play through each piece I'd say I have down once or twice to keep it fresh in my head. I usually end with the piece I've most recently started working and will play through it a couple of times however my skill level will permit (i.e., hands separately or hands together).

 Recently, though, I've started to feel as though I've "plateaued," and am not getting much better. I realize that, to a certain extent, it's not that uncommon for the progression of one's skill to go through cycles where there may be a couple of months (or weeks or whatever) filled with lots of progress, followed by a period of relative stagnation, and so on. But I'm starting to get just a little frustrated.

 I'll usually practice 45-90 minutes a day, five or six days a week, depending upon how my schedule's looking. For clarity's sake, below is an outline of what one of my practice sessions might look like:

-C major scales (standard, octaves, thirds)
-C major arpeggios
-Minuet in C by Mozart
-Prelude in C by Bach
-Two-Part Invention #1 by Bach   

 Any input is greatly appreciated.

[pianoman8]

Hi Ryan,
There are tons of different ways of practicing that can be used, but I think the best thing, if possible, would be getting a teacher. A teacher can help guide you in the right direction and help you from forming bad habits. Also, many people can describe ways to practice, but there is no comparison to learning in person.

[ryankmfdm]

 Thanks for the reply; I do appreciate it. But I will say, trust me, if I could afford a teacher right now, I'd have one. Unfortunately, though, I'm one of those starving students you hear so much about these days.

 However, I'm convinced that a teacher isn't really necessary for me to get an answer to this question. I'm mostly curious about how people cycle through their repertoire after they consider a piece "mastered"--do they file it away, never to play it again, except for upon request? Or do they work through it perhaps once a week to keep it somewhat fresh in their minds? Once every other week, etc.? I'm curious.

[pianoman8]

Hi Ryan,
Once someone gets a piece to level that is performable, they may or may not continue to practice for a certain amount of time. Depending on their level, they may be able to play it in 3 months without touching it after they mastered it. Or, it might sound like they've played the piece their entire life. It also depends on how someone learned the piece. They might have learned a piece and perfected it in 3 days. In that case, they will most likely forget the piece quite fast. If they spent 6 months working on the piece, it may take much longer to forget. I would like to add in and say that you do not teacher for learning, but once you move onto harder pieces, it will get harder and harder to be self-taught. On the topic of a teacher, it could be affordable if you know some other people who want learn piano and take a group lesson with someone. Also, if you have a conservatory, music school, or anything like that near you can try find one of the students there and see if they give lessons, as if will most like likely be cheaper. You can also watch some of Josh Wright's videos, they are extremely helpful and he definitely knows what he's talking about.

videos

[ryankmfdm]

 Again, thanks for the reply. So essentially what you're saying is that it not only depends on how subjectively you feel you've mastered the piece, but also how much time you've put into learning (i.e., how much exposure you've had to it), which makes perfect sense.

 Next quarter I'm hoping to have some room in my schedule for a piano class (as I did last quarter), but we'll see. I think the potential for instruction via social media is great, and I'll definitely check out some of Josh's videos. Additionally, I feel I've derived a great deal of benefit from this series, from Pianist magazine: [ Invalid YouTube link ]20graham%20fitch&sm=3

[pianoman8]

If you have any other questions feel free to send me a message:)

[outin]

Thanks for the reply; I do appreciate it. But I will say, trust me, if I could afford a teacher right now, I'd have one. Unfortunately, though, I'm one of those starving students you hear so much about these days.

 However, I'm convinced that a teacher isn't really necessary for me to get an answer to this question. I'm mostly curious about how people cycle through their repertoire after they consider a piece "mastered"--do they file it away, never to play it again, except for upon request? Or do they work through it perhaps once a week to keep it somewhat fresh in their minds? Once every other week, etc.? I'm curious.

People have their own ways and one should find one that suits your needs and your personality. If you don't have a techer you have to learn to measure your own progress so you will know what works and what doesn't.

For me it's best to take a complete break from pieces and then relearn them. Everytime they are relearned faster, get better and I find new things in them. Cannot keep myself interested in endlessly repeating something, not even once a week.

[ryankmfdm]

 Thanks again, pianoman8. Will do.

For me it's best to take a complete break from pieces and then relearn them. Everytime they are relearned faster, get better and I find new things in them. Cannot keep myself interested in endlessly repeating something, not even once a week.

Is this something you might do for a piece that's been frustrating you? Or just something you do to a piece you already feel you have a pretty good hold on, but to really just ensure mastery?

[pianoman8]

Thanks again, pianoman8. Will do. Is this something you might do for a piece that's been frustrating you? Or just something you do to a piece you already feel you have a pretty good hold on, but to really just ensure mastery?
If you allow yourself to completely forget the piece I believe you are wasting your time. If you want to take a break from it don't practice it for 3-4 days. That is completely fine. Everyone deserves a break. When you come back you will feel like you can't play any of it, but it will get back under your fingers. After a couple more days, weeks of practice, the piece should get more comfortable. I also believe that it is extremely important to practice daily if you are trying to perfect something. Also, don't take 3-4 day breaks very often, because you will soon be playing like crap and have a very tough time getting the piece back to where you originally had it.

[outin]

Is this something you might do for a piece that's been frustrating you? Or just something you do to a piece you already feel you have a pretty good hold on, but to really just ensure mastery?

Any piece seems to evolve with time spent away, no matter how well I think I could play them. Sometimes I even notice smarter fingerings when I come back to a piece...

Similarly, trying to just play something regularly to avoid forgetting seems to make them worse. Just "practicing" without any specific aim makes me loose my interest I guess and if I'm not really interested I cannot keep it fresh.