Another thing that has been popping up quite a bit this week in lessons, yesterday and today, (maybe I am just focused in on the same issues in all of my lessons, or maybe these REALLY are common problems for this age-middle school beginners) has been HOW and WHERE to begin practicing something.
I tell my kiddos this: Don't look at the big picture... yet. When looking at something for the first time (or even the first few times!) it can seem a daunting task. Especially for beginners!
Notes, Rythms, Dynamics, Breath marks, Articulations, Key Signatures, Time Signatures.... AH! There is a lot of information to be digested even in only a few bars of an Essential Elements tune.
The best way to get at this stuff is to break it down.
1. Notes- take a look at the key signature, and then go through the tune (if it is a short "band book" tune) note by note playing each note as if you were practicing a scale. Rhythm is not important right now, we are just doing this to prepare our fingers and air support for what is to come.
If you are a more advanced student working on a longer piece of music, I would say "chunk" it out, phrase by phrase and practice this way.
2. Rhythm- now it is time to either clap, tap, or count using a number system through your excerpt. This time, we aren't paying any attention to notes, you don't even need your oboe for this part.
3. Articulation- go through the excerpt and mark where you need to tongue with a "T". This can be especially helpful if you are working on slurs for the first time; for example- slur two tongue two. Make sure to keep your air going strong for this!
An optional #4 for more advanced players working on complex music can include adding in dynamics and other expressive nuances.
I like my students to know that once these basic areas are isolated and worked on individually, they are easily "quilted" together one at a time, creating the bigger picture.
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