STUDIO HANDBOOK
HOW MUCH SHOULD I PRACTICE?
Beginners are generally asked to play each assigned song 5 times during each practice
session for around the first six months. Their practice time will often only amount to
5 – 10 minutes until their songs become more complicated. Initially they are using
skills they already have mastered (the alphabet from A to G, counting to 4, and
numbering their fingers from one to five). Once they must play by note, not finger
numbers, things get more challenging for many. Be ready for this.
The expected length of practice time for more advanced students is at least 30 minutes
daily on up to 60 minutes or more depending on the length of the lesson and the
repertoire. The most important aspect of practice is feeling that you’ve made some
headway for that day towards meeting our lesson goals.
The most meaningful practice for a student consists of reviewing their songs at home
for a few minutes the same day they have their lesson, so they will remember what
and how to practice their assignment more clearly the rest of their week.
Each piece should be practiced in the manner we “practiced it” during the last lesson
with effort towards improving whatever we discussed and rehearsed. In general,
students are initially asked to analyze a piece – look for repeats, steps, skips, chords,
anything that will help them learn the piece more quickly. We then practice a short
phrase right hand alone, left hand alone, then that phrase is played with both hands
together carefully. This is how they should learn the tricky parts of every piece they
practice. I note on the music what needs special attention whether it be counting,
names of notes, and I circle dynamic signs if they have been overlooked.
Students are always assigned certain things to master in their songs each week and
have practiced all of these things in the lesson with me so I know they can do it. By
practicing as I described, most lesson book songs can be mastered in one to two
weeks.
An advanced student may need to practice at least 3 months or more on a
song/program to polish it at a level that makes them competitive. During this time
they will be assigned easier short songs for variation and continued learning.
Once you are beyond your beginning books, playing a song over and over without
special attention to the more difficult passages will not improve your song at all. It is
not an acceptable way to practice.
Taking some time each week to sight read new songs is highly encouraged. Sight-
reading is simply playing through songs, generally that are easier than your lessons
songs, without trying to work through trouble spots. The goals is to see how well
you can play them first time through.
During January when we spend the majority of our lessons time orchestrating songs
for the Clavinova Festival, I still expect the student to practice other songs each day,
even though I may not be able to hear those songs for a few lessons. Continued
practice has not been a problem for students who also elect to enter the Three-
movement Sonatina Competition held a few weeks after the Clavinova Festival!
Confident playing happens as the result of regular daily careful practice, not from
“crammed” practice done at the last minute. It is so important to avoid
procrastination habits that create anguish and result in performance at a level less that
we’d like .
HOW MUCH SHOULD I PRACTICE?
Beginners are generally asked to play each assigned song 5 times during each practice
session for around the first six months. Their practice time will often only amount to
5 – 10 minutes until their songs become more complicated. Initially they are using
skills they already have mastered (the alphabet from A to G, counting to 4, and
numbering their fingers from one to five). Once they must play by note, not finger
numbers, things get more challenging for many. Be ready for this.
The expected length of practice time for more advanced students is at least 30 minutes
daily on up to 60 minutes or more depending on the length of the lesson and the
repertoire. The most important aspect of practice is feeling that you’ve made some
headway for that day towards meeting our lesson goals.
The most meaningful practice for a student consists of reviewing their songs at home
for a few minutes the same day they have their lesson, so they will remember what
and how to practice their assignment more clearly the rest of their week.
Each piece should be practiced in the manner we “practiced it” during the last lesson
with effort towards improving whatever we discussed and rehearsed. In general,
students are initially asked to analyze a piece – look for repeats, steps, skips, chords,
anything that will help them learn the piece more quickly. We then practice a short
phrase right hand alone, left hand alone, then that phrase is played with both hands
together carefully. This is how they should learn the tricky parts of every piece they
practice. I note on the music what needs special attention whether it be counting,
names of notes, and I circle dynamic signs if they have been overlooked.
Students are always assigned certain things to master in their songs each week and
have practiced all of these things in the lesson with me so I know they can do it. By
practicing as I described, most lesson book songs can be mastered in one to two
weeks.
An advanced student may need to practice at least 3 months or more on a
song/program to polish it at a level that makes them competitive. During this time
they will be assigned easier short songs for variation and continued learning.
Once you are beyond your beginning books, playing a song over and over without
special attention to the more difficult passages will not improve your song at all. It is
not an acceptable way to practice.
Taking some time each week to sight read new songs is highly encouraged. Sight-
reading is simply playing through songs, generally that are easier than your lessons
songs, without trying to work through trouble spots. The goals is to see how well
you can play them first time through.
During January when we spend the majority of our lessons time orchestrating songs
for the Clavinova Festival, I still expect the student to practice other songs each day,
even though I may not be able to hear those songs for a few lessons. Continued
practice has not been a problem for students who also elect to enter the Three-
movement Sonatina Competition held a few weeks after the Clavinova Festival!
Confident playing happens as the result of regular daily careful practice, not from
“crammed” practice done at the last minute. It is so important to avoid
procrastination habits that create anguish and result in performance at a level less that
we’d like .
The Barbara Taylor Music Studio
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