How to make practice sessions more efficient?

[chopinlover01]

So I have a master class in Newport, OR in August (roughly 6 weeks from now), and while I know I'll be able to go through at least decently, I'd like to know if you all have any tips or if there actually is a "holy grail" of practicing (besides a metronome ). I have to play Rondó sobre temas infantiles argentinos by Alberto Ginastera. It's a bit of a stretch in musicality, and I have it somewhat playable, and halfway memorized (I learn and memorize pieces quickly- a gift from God), but what I've noticed is that my practicing seems to be inefficient. Examples are me taking a long time to install fingering in a certain section, etc. Thanks for all replies! Also, I know that my recent repertoire is either at or above this piece, but the stretch is in the sight reading. I was given this piece 16 weeks before my concert.

[j_menz]

the stretch is in the sight reading

That is probably revealing.

The score doesn't seem to me particularly difficult to read of itself, so any difficulties you are having with the reading probably reflect some more fundamental problem. Rhythms maybe - especially with the changing time signatures? Certain harmonic peculiarities? Lots of sharps in the middle bit?

If you identify exactly where the problem(s) are, you're halfway to solving them.

[coherence]

I find it helpful to make sure I interleave different passages when I'm practicing... rather than drill a problem section for a long block of time, then the next section, and so on, I rotate short passages every 3-5 minutes or so basically at random. I even wrote some software to help me do it (trying to learn The People United Will Never Be Defeated). Also I take more breaks, and have more, shorter practice sessions throughout the day. This technique shows up in research on general teaching and learning as "distributed practice" and "spaced repetition" so I know it's not just me. Has to do with how the brain makes connections and transfers things from short-term to long-term memory. Good luck!

[kaystephaniex]

As for me, I find practising continuosly for long hours don't work for me (I get bored easily). I prefer to work on a problematic part for about 45 minutes to an hour and then take a 30 minutes to an hour of break. This way pays off everytime. You should record your playing and listen to it too. Look for which part that still has room for improvements. And also listen to many different recordings and read commentary notes to have better understanding of the piece. Helps learning the piece quicker. As for memorisation, I like to vocalise the melody part instead of playing it while playing only the accompaniment. Am I making any sense? I can't really help you with fingerings for I'm not so great at it myself.

[coda_colossale]

Well, I like the brute force method in memorizing. Read through the work, then repeat until you can bring the sheet music in front of your eyes or transcribe it on a blank paper with correct articulations, dynamics and stuff. That's why my repertoire is so damn small  

[kaystephaniex]

Well, I like the brute force method in memorizing. Read through the work, then repeat until you can bring the sheet music in front of your eyes or transcribe it on a blank paper with correct articulations, dynamics and stuff. That's why my repertoire is so damn small  

Holy crap! You are crazy. That would take forever.

[mr1062]

Also I take more breaks, and have more, shorter practice sessions throughout the day. This technique shows up in research on general teaching and learning as "distributed practice" and "spaced repetition" so I know it's not just me. Has to do with how the brain makes connections and transfers things from short-term to long-term memory.

I have read several articles on this method, and have applied it in my practice as well.  When I notice the difference is the next day.  The fragments I drilled in this way "stick" better!