Practice Technique: Practice without the piano!
Category: Practice and Performance
photo credit: ooOJasonOoo
As silly as it might seem, practicing without the piano can shorten the time you need to practice significantly. I’ve used this technique on many occasions. When encountering a new piece of music, I ALWAYS practice it in my head first, before putting my fingers on the keys.
VISUALIZATION is great for all levels, but is most useful for late beginners and up. It is important that you have a good feeling for the keyboard before you try to use this technique.
Here are some basic steps to start using the visualization technique for piano practice:
- Start with a piece of music that you have already memorized. (Once you have mastered the technique you will be able to use it on any piece of music – even music you have never seen before.)
- Read through the music at the same pace you would use to play it, and imagine that you are playing through it. Now is time to use that vivid imagination of yours! Make it as real as possible in your mind. Visualize the notes, and the fingers that you will use to play the notes. Visualize your hands moving up and down the keyboard.
Beginners can make visualization easier by using these techniques:
- Visualize practicing one hand a time. Like hands-separate practice for your brain
- Mix up playing and visualization. Play a passage of music, then visualize it, then play it again!
- Read the music while you visualize playing it
- Move your fingers as you visualize the keys on the piano and the notes you are playing
Visualization is a great technique to use when you don’t have a keyboard available, or as an additional technique to make the most out of your practice time.
Posted on February 9th, 2009 by sharlene
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