How to practice effectively | Figuring Out Your Practice Routine [3/3]
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- This is part 3 of a 3 part series:
Part One → • Figuring Out Your Prac...
Part Two → • How to Choose What to ...
Part Three → (this video)
Here's some good places to find sheet music. Let me know of any other good ones in the comments and I'll add them here.
************
musopen.org → Huge collection of public domain music. You can sort by composer and/or instrument. Most pieces are not written for beginners, so this isn't the best place to find easy stuff to work on music reading.
imslp.org/ → Simialr to the above. Lots public domain music.
www.gmajormusic... → Not the world's prettiest website, but there's lots of easy music sorted by difficulty. Good place to find music to work on your reading.
www.8notes.com → Some of the music is free, some isn't, but the free section is pretty generous and it can also be sorted by difficulty. Also a good place to work on your reading.
Hi Michael,
Some context---I'm old enough to be your mother, and took lessons as a student in elementary and then high school. To be honest, the lessons were a waste of my parents' money. I learned enough to crank out a poorly performed recital piece each year and that was the extent. I blamed myself entirely.
As a young adult, I was blessed to study with a classical piano teacher from whom I learned a great deal---but again, never going in the direction of being a "really useful engine" in practical settings: church, playing for residents in nursing homes, etc. One polished piece for a recital each year was, again, about the extent of it.
After watching some of your videos, I want you to know how incredibly valuable---even at this late stage in my life---I've found them. Thank you not only for sharing your vast technical and theoretical knowledge, but (perhaps even more importantly) also how to approach and apply those concepts to one's specific needs.
You rock, friend. :)
I've been playing piano for about six years with the help of a teacher and recently I realised I'm at the point were I have to start taking initiative in finding out what I need to learn to play the pieces I want to play. This was really helpful man, thank you.
Nice Skyrim poster btw.
This lesson applies to so much more than just music, and is a great articulation about what I've intuitively felt about learning for years but often refused to admit.
These are some amazing lessons, not only apply to music, but also learning in general, and life. I think here is why viewers love Michael so much: while most teachers communicate the knowledge, he sets a goal to help people make progress. And that makes him an excellent teacher. (My first comment ever on YT)
I'm a 63 yo woman learning to play the violin. I was curious as to why the G minor melodic scale practice in the Suzuki book was changing on the way down. Thought I might be reading the notes incorrectly. Thank you for giving more information in the video on the difference and use of the minor scales. Wow! What a great job! This is my first time watching one of your videos. I am glad to have found your site!
What a revelation. As an engineer just having commenced teaching myself to play I am so used to the regimented and formulaic approach that engineering demands. Having started down this route using the rigid formulas I see in books and in the multitude of online lessons, I have quickly become overwhelmed by the things it is recommended that I practice. Scales, arpeggios, chords, triplets, theory, fingering.....the list is endless and it becomes disorientating. This idea of “The Quest” is liberating, it takes away the pressure of having to learn stuff without understanding why and provides a focus. It also sounds much more fun! I’ll see where this quest takes me....
This isn't just helpful for learning to play music; it's essential to learning almost anything. (though, it's especially prominent in music given the amount of material you need to learn)
Thanks again Michael for being a perfect teacher!
Hi Michael!
I completely agree with all the points that you made with regard to the best way to practice and incrementally develop your skills. You say that the planning and deconstruction of composite skills is the best way to learn piano by aiming at a goal. And this is 100% true for advanced level pianists. That's how I go about practicing and planning my activities.
However, I firmly disagree with the idea that this would be the appropriate approach for a beginning pianist. They simply don't have the foresight to assess the problems they face and deconstruct them in an appropriate manner. Not to make your video into a straw man, but saying "Break the Moonlight sonata into it's fundamental building blocks" is much less helpful that "Here are some concrete pieces, exercises, books etc. that might be appropriate for someone that eventually wants to learn the Moonlight Sonata".
To quote from my favorite book on teaching, "How Learning Works" by Susan A. Ambrose, "...research suggests that the first phase of metacognition--assessing the task--is not always a natural or easy one for students." This leads me to believe that students need scaffolding with which to grow with before they have acquired the self-evaluating skills necessary for effective problem solving.
I don't mean to bash on this video at all but I would like to just suggest that this style of learning is not appropriate for beginners but it is effective for advanced self-directed learners. Thank you for taking the time to make these helpful videos and I hope you continue making them in the future.
Thank you for pointing out the metacognition part! As a person who's self-learning, I have experienced the frustration of figuring out why I couldn't progress/making the same mistakes. I couldn't pinpoint why and only get a glimpse of this skill to use. I'm glad you verbalise it because it's been bugging my self-learning journey for years, I intuitively know this but it wasn't as concrete as I'd like it to be. Your comment is very helpful!
The principle he described not only works in learning music, but also suits all aspects in learning-life.
I began piano lessons not too long ago and was just struggling with how to practice. I thought the teacher was supposed to tell me what to do and I would automatically get better. This video made me realize that I should create my own practice routine based on the areas I have identified. It needs to be fun and engaging and the teacher will provide guidance. It is much more empowering and I will be much more motivated to practice and improve. Thank you for your help and advise.
Finally you are about the only person online on how one should study and practice a piece of music sheet or song by starting at the very beginning and moving step by steps until you reach your goal in life Thank you Michael New God bless you love your UA-cam videos online it’s like learning to build a house or car etc... you start at the beginning or where ever one needs to be at then take it from there... until your finish , ciao from Ed.
Dude I absolutely love your teaching style, I imagine it's very hard for many to be able to grasp apart from very small doses but for those that can keep up you show people great insight into the bigger picture the practical, rational, approach to learning music as a whole not just any single instrument. I wish more had your style so I wouldn't waste untold amounts of time watching youtube videos that barely manage to draw perspectives that you are able to communicate in mere paragraphs. Hats off to you sir.
Very true, don't try to find the perfect teacher/course. Thats putting off responsibility. You are the person in the cockpit, making reasoned decisions while enjoying the ride.
Michael, I just want you to know that your teachings have proven to be the most clear and applicable music lessons I have ever had the fortune of receiving.
I attempted classes with many teachers, from formal classic piano isntructors, to much more informal ones; learning pieces blindly without foundation, pressing keys as if I were a piano roll.
Until I landed on your channel; you have made a wonderful library of tutorials that explain very comprehensively every subject, you help people understand the inner workings of music, revealing the mystery behind it. It stops being an act of pure random to make a piece sound well, all explained in a very friendly manner. There is much more to say (all praise), but I want to keep this short.
Your work inspired me (as I'm sure many others) to pursue the dream of being able to play music, understanding each step, every leap, why things are done the way they are, and I have no words to describe the gratitude that generates.
I'll sum this up by saying Thank you. I wish you success and hope to see more of your great content.
Cheers!
Great video, loved the gaming parables :) I decided to get into music composing, namely electro and while I was at it, I came upon the little things you so well expressed in the video. Taking a stab at something and realizing what you are missing, then working from that. Doing that, it led me to a realization that my music theory is seriously lacking and so would be my songs were I to compose any and am now thinking of taking up piano again after not playing for 5 years. Your channel is very inspirative :)
Love the RPG analogy. Is there a followup to this channel or you done doing internet stuff? Cheers and thanks for all the advice.
Michael, I really seldom comment videos, but I want to admit that I am your true fan! I could never imagine that videos on any kind of theory could be so engaging and gripping. I look forward to every new one as if I'm watching a TV series :) Your way of explaining things is absolutely stunning and fascinating, you are my fav teacher now. I feel lucky to have come across your channel. Thank you so much!
I'm a self taught guitarist and started playing Piano 2 years ago. What kind of amazes me, is that (fortunatly) I've been subconciously doing what you described in this video. A problem that I recently stuck on tho, is that I find myself hanging on the performance part of a particular song. Furthermore when I can technicly play the song "good", but still have some struggle areas that just don't improve 🤔
I love it ... LEVEL UP but NO GRINDING. I happily recommend the adult piano books by Bastien as they were a great help to me, as a total adult neophyte. You need everything in these books to do ANYTHING else. But you're right that these books don't help me figure out WHY I need to know things. I get what you're saying about You Are the Protagonist. The book is like a bunch of puzzle pieces and the mentality you are talking about fits with the book. I think what you're saying is right. I do think I will try ALL the things. Teachers. Books. Videos. Apps. As a software developer I am trained to measure effectiveness of techniques (feedback). I think learning piano, we need to gauge effectiveness of what we're doing. Close loop principle. What did we do? Did it work? Not well? What can we change? Awesome video.
Absolutely...the remote control HAS to be in our hands !
Hi Michael,
First off, I am also a "mature" music student having come back to Jazz Saxophone about 5 years ago. I am VERY grateful to you for all of your videos and in particular your very clear teaching of music theory in a logical digestible way that seems to be difficult for many instructors to accomplish. THIS video also struck me as beautiful too. I have a great and very experienced instructor who has helped me IMMENSELY with my instrument. my knowledge, and my understanding ....... however, until I struck on the idea of bringing a REAL piece of music that I love to him to work on along with the standard books ......... my progress had been limited. Amazingly, as you suggest in this video, doing that has allowed us to explore so many "side streets" that sort of crop up during lessons just as you describe as well. So, some easy jazz ballad let's say, has led us to rhythm explorations, learning modes and different keys more easily, etc etc. And when in the midst of doing this in a lesson, I am so happily carried away that I begin to improvise spontaneously ......... my teacher just sits back and smiles......... knowing he has done it right for me........... SO, THANKS A MILLION. You are right ON THE MARK HERE!
Great video! You've helped me identify why I've been losing interest in piano over the past couple weeks. I've forgotten why I wanted to play in the first place. I realize now that I had the wrong goal. The wrong quest. I'd been practicing way to much on the physical aspect of piano, which is good and all, but have neglected the fun of improvisation. I think I especially lost motivation due to the fact that I want to play jazz, which is highly improvisational. Your series has helped me get back on track and I appreciate your time and effort in your videos.
Hey Michael, i've been teaching Piano about 36 years now and i just want to say, i really love your approach. The things you site about individual students is so true! Yr very fown to earth and sincere and that really goes a long way with learning and teaching. Peace, ernie :-)
WowWowWow. These three videos seriously changed the way that I cried music and learning. Like seriously. I’ve been trying to learn for so so long and I’ve been running into a wall, but I didn’t know how to solve the problem. You helped me experience breakthrough! Thank you!
I'm starting to get a Handel of things, thank you Michael.
Haha, and your name sounds like it could be in Star Wars
Michael, this message you sent really, really speaks to me. I'm a 25 year old beginner and I'm tackling music all at once, in the process overloading my mind consistently. I feel very lost going at this alone and I have resorted to a teacher, and what you said about this has helped greatly. I now go to find out how I need to manage my time, and it strikes at me that I have several big goals in mind and need to make a decision. I really appreciate this video, music is challenging and discouraging but beautiful!!
"A teacher can help you, a book can help you, but that's all it is; it's just help" Never quite thought about it this way, even though it seems like something that should be more obvious and more widely understood
Could you please do a video on Negative harmony?
Great lesson Michael. I have been both a student and a teacher -- many times. The great insight you point out so forcefully is that the student is always responsible for any learning that does or does not occur. Teachers and books can assist but in themselves add little. Student self-directed learning to achieve a passionately desired goal is always the best approach. I'm just getting back into music, so it helped me greatly to be reminded of that. Thanks.
I think these principles apply to every thing that we want to practice ...Now I know why am I taking so much time to learn programming also... Thanks a lot!!
Michael must be a fantastic piano teacher (assuming he teaches...). I play guitar, but this is still very interesting and somewhat helpful for me in figuring out what to prioritize in practice.
Excellent content. Been a self taught musician my entire life, starting with piano, moving to bass and guitar and finally to ukulele. This series really shed a new light and inspiration in my approach to learning the instruments. Sending you a super thank you. You have an amazing talent to break it down and the fact you share this, is truly a selfless and blessed gift. I commend you.
I started taking piano lessons around a year ago, and I have been kind of taking the approach of "just grind it out". I have had a nagging feeling like I haven't exactly been learning the "right way". I was passionate about it, but I didn't have any direction, I didn't know where to go, or what to learn.
This video kind of seems like it should be an obvious thing for people trying to learn into music, but I really needed someone to tell me this. Thank you, this lesson is important
I recently have started to teach piano lessons. Haven't played for more then 10 year so now there are lot of holes and gaps to fill because I have forgotten things. I must say I'm in love with your job - your videos!!! I've been trying to find on youtube something like this but non of what |I found seemed interesting and easy to make sense. Yours are sooooooo perfect for me. It's so easy to fallow and understand and I don't get day dreamy and kind of listening with just one ear!! I love it!!! So what I do, I give my student as a homework to watch some subjects on your videos so they would have better understanding. I know it sound like cheating,but I'll tell you why it's not - I'm Latvian and I finished Music school in my country so it's hard to explain everything clearly in English. But for someone like me your videos are perfect - I refresh all my knowledge and also learn it all in English :)))))) Thank you for doing this!!!!!!
If you do any seminars of courses I would love to visit (I'm living in UK but would go anywhere where you teach :))) )
Find your quest. Love it. Seriously simple advice. One of the best videos I've seen on the concept of practicing. Bonus points for the D&D.
Michael, Can you please make a video on how to be confident while playing,
I have a concert this Sunday,
Pretty nervous, Playing solo!
Thanks for the Videos Really helped me
Regards Norman.
Well I don't think I'll get a new video out by Sunday, but here's my advice:
1) When you're nervous, focus on your breathing. You can't control your heart rate or your adrenaline or your sweaty palms or your hands shaking, but you can control your breathing. Personally I like the box breathing method: quietkit.com/box-breathing
2) Expect there to be mistakes, and don't freak out when they happen. Until you're a world-class performer you're going to flub a few things. Don't be shocked and horrified when they happen; just smile to yourself and keep playing.
3) Fix things in practice. If you mess up a particular part of a song when you play it in practice, you're going to mess that up when you perform. Either fix it, or accept that it's going to happen on stage and be okay with that.
4) Accept your nervousness. Many people will feel themselves getting nervous and panic. They basically get nervous about feeling nervous. Your hands will probably shake a little, you might feel a little nauseous, but whatever, that's fine. You can play with shaky hands and you can play with a weird feeling in your stomach. Being nervous is just a thing that happens. Accept that it will and be okay with it.
5) Your perception of time changes when you're nervous. You'll think you're playing at normal speed when you're really playing too fast. Aim for what feels like about 80% normal and you should be about right.
Thanks Michael you're definitely a Music Helper!
Thanks, any and every advice you give are very helpfull, i will focus on this and get prepared .
Never stop making these kinds of videos.
Wow, thank you for showing me this aproach that I subconciencely felt but didn't truly realise. Now I can apply it. I am the master of my own quest ;-)
I'm singing in an acapella choir, and we call it an 'intelligent choir': not only the director is responsible for the sound, pitch, the start, the ending of notes, but every choir member is equally responsible. And we all have the same goal, or quest: making the music sound great. And you have more fun when you have to think for yourself: what do I need to do/learn to make this music sound great, than when a director just 'switches' you on or off. It works!
I love your video's, the only comment is that I sometimes would like to hear some examples for singers. It's mostly about playing other instruments.
Thanks, keep up the good work!
This really hit home for me, as I realized this for myself just a few weeks ago. Keep up the good work man, you make a good teacher.
i feel like you are hearing my thoughts damn this is so perfect im subbed now. you make my slow ass brain understand!
I've been off and on learning random bits of music theory, practicing and learning songs for multiple instruments, songwriting, etc. etc. etc. and at the age of 31, the dots are starting to connect but I really wish I'd been more efficient over the years.
Your pedagogy is sublime. I love it, we must make our own formula.
These videos have been rad! I appreciate the time you take out if your day to do them! Keep killing it!
Hey Michael, really really really thanks man....I bought a keyboard 4 months ago, started playing, watching many videos on UA-cam I started playing scales & arpeggios, some hanon exercises, but I wasn't consistently practicing daily...I learnt 2 pieces from Synthesia visual tutorials, wasnt able to play with my left, i thought if I continue with only Synthesia I won't be able to learn sight reading, then watched some tutorials on sight reading, practiced something, but stopped again. Got frustrated on how to exactly proceed to learn playing piano.....I watched all these 3 vidoes, now I know what I gotta do.. Thanks a lot for helping me figure out....🙂
Are u still playing?
Thank you, I watched all three! What you were saying is mostly what I was thinking. I'm learning violin so I think i do need to practice scales, etc. everyday but I like your approach for everything. I have a piece I want to learn that I've liked since I was young and it is very hard.That is my "one day" goal. thanks again!
Best music education on the internet
You are the greatest man. I learnt so much from this three-video-series. Now I feel like I know what I need to do and how to do it. I appreciate your works and efforts.
Thank you 🙏 😊 very much.
Great video !!
Loved the quest analogy so much :)
Thanks for this great, inspirational and very helpful video! And what's really cool about it is that the principle you explained also applies to learning in general, not only learning piano.
This little series is very good and I feel like it will save me a lot of time and no small amount of headache. Good job!
Thank you Michael!
I needed that 🙏
It soo helped me with my guitaring.
Great video! One thing that helped me a lot was starting to play piano after about 6 months of playing guitar. For example, seeing a triad on a piano made it extremely obvious what was happening when I was playing guitar chords. That's something that only occurred to me because I spent a certain amount of time to "exploring." On days where I feel like I'm in a rut, I'll search for something way outside of my usual genre or practice routine like playing in a nonstandard tuning. Sometimes I do feel like too much experimentation is really pulling me in way too many directions and take away from my focus. At the same time, I really do think experimenting in your practice routine can open you up to new ideas or realizations that can improve your playing.
you are very good at explaining things
This is a great video. Really sheds some light on what I should be doing during my practice.
I started when i was 5 learning drums, then guitar, and now piano. i was in choir and had singing lessons for a year (due to financial issues) to be an r&b singer, but ive never tried making my own music until a year ago. im 19 now, ive been producing music for a lil, but now im stuck...i would record a melody and in the end, its whack music. Its either the melody or the bassline that sucks. i even turned to sampling, but i still suck. i always get discouraged and all i can hear in my head is "you clearly cant make a good melody, just quit" ive watched ur tension and release videos and how to change keys but i never knew how to practice it......pls help...
Thanks for this fantastic video, Michael! Have you heard of the concept of "interleaved practice"? Essentially, you can make your practice much more efficient (whether in music, sports..) if you challenge your brain to *re-access* certain information over the course of a session. Essentially, you want to avoid the "performance effect", where you get better at Task X (recognizing notes, playing a difficult arpeggio), just because you've been grinding on it for the past several minutes - this "progress" sounds good in the moment, but there can be a significant backslide when you next sit down at the piano. The goal of interleaved practice is to, in a sense, to switch up and repeat your parts of your routine over the course of one session, so your brain doesn't get lazy, and so certain mental and physical parts of your playing are better cemented. Dr. Noa Kageyama has a great explainer on youtube as it relates to music.
Looked it up, very interesting approach, thanks.
love the gamification approach, great metaphors ! :)
Quite different Michael! Very applicable to my stage! Thank you.
The content is awesome and super helpful as always. But that's par for the course. I just wanted to point out however that I love your t-shirt :)
Thank you for everything you do
Thanks for another awesome video, Michael! This helps a lot.
I have a suggestion topic for you, although I think that a lot of people asked for this or something similar, but nevertheless.
What about of making a video (or couple os such, or even mini-series) where you took some classical (or jazz, or movie theme or whatever you like) music piece and analyze it -- what chord progessions are used and what special do they have, what are important features of melodic line, how do both of these work together, how composer managed to put magic in this piece.
I think that this will be interesting and helpful for lot of people, since your teaching and explanatory skills are great.
You are incredible dude
Truly excellent advice here.
hi Michael, I was going through your lessons and they are extremely helpful. In some of the lessons u said about doing stuff like polytonality, non tertian harmony, mix 3rds etc. also I wish if you make videos on parallel 5ths, modal harmony, tonal harmony, mystic chords etc. I really like the way u explain man. Appreciate your effort and looking forward to some more amazing stuff 😃✌. cheers!
best video ever 1,2 and 3.loved it.
I am so grateful for your channel. ;) You are phenomenal! I am so inspired & touched by your knowledge & content. Thank you immensely for sharing! You kick ass!!! :D
1:41 LOVE you name dropping Skyrim. Again you've gone up +1 in my respect. I mean your videos are awesome but that's beyond the point right now! :-D
Thank you!
That shirt is a guaranteed right swipe.
Thanks for the vids!
Awesome video!
Hi Michael, I know that it is totally off topic with regards to practice routines, but I would like to know if you could a video about voice leading in chord progressions. So far I've been able to find the rules for the progressions with chords in root position, but nothing about inverted chords (or chords with 7ths, 9ths and so forth). Since I think that this topic is very interesting, I hope you'll take it into consideration for a video :) Thank you very much!
Great video, btw 1.5 speed sounds much more natural
Silvain Nordseal I feel like this is the best time saving advice for informational videos in general.
It sure is pretty good. I'm not arguing that. It's just that Michael didn't script the whole thing (How should he? It's 22 minutes long). Thus, the pace at which he talks doesn't really suit me personally. Or maybe I'm just used to fast vloggers and such.
Agree
I would like to hear your thoughts in a video on when it works best to use flat chords like a flat 6 or flat 7 chord when composing music. Sorry if you already touched on this in one of your previous videos. If so, please direct me to it on your channel. Btw, great videos! You have a gift in how you explain music.
You just described me to a tee!
dude i wish i can thumb this video up more than once i wanna thumb up everyday for the next 10 years this video contains brilliant content in every second
very good lessons, and the video games comparing to the fun in playing music is a good way of seeing it, however I will say after having learned some theory (which I found hard, and still do) I found it to be kind of boring and hard in the very begining but then it starts becoming a bit more fun in seeing how music pices and sutch are constructed but I am very bad a theory so maybe thats way it took alot longer time for me to see some fun parts of it (but I am just at the very simple begining, I dont even know what 4/4 or that kind of stuff is, or I do if I hear it of course.) I also learn alot by having a book with the name of say some guitar jazz chords, so I dont agree with that one, I find i focus more with a book with chords with some reference, to try to memorize later
Thank You, this video helped me alot. I'm currently running against some kind of wall with my piano playing, because I don't know what to work on exactly and im struggling to find good piano sheets for free...life of a pupil
Amazing! Big thank you :) ❤❤❤
Generous guy. Hope all is well. 🙏
Hi, I was just wondering if you could do videos on how to read sheet music. I know you haven't done these type of videos but I would really like that. Thank you so much and continue the great work!
Hi, Ive been wondering, if your playing in a key then you suddenly use a note or chord that isn't a part of that key what will that do will it just sound awful or what? Thanks in advanced for any explanations 👍🏻👍🏻
Hey Michael! I'm a big fan, your videos are great! What about a video on chord substitution and passing chords? Pleaaaseee!
Hey Michael, this was a great lesson for me (all of the points you made made a lot of sense and relating things to games often helps me a lot,) but I actually have a question about something you said in the video. Why do you find it absolutely necessary to print out the sheet music and have it on paper rather than a computer or phone screen?
Hi Michael! Love your channel, just stumbled upon it. Quick question for you? How do you feel about the app Simply Piano as a supplement to practise? Are there any things about it that can hinder you in the long term?
Beautifully said!! ;)
Really my issue is with timing That is what I need to work on
geiadude same here sometimes I think I'll never understand them and I just need to mimic understanding of rhythm
Thank you so much for everything that you do here, it is extremely helpful! Can these principles be applied to the improv/auditory route just as easily?
hey man, can you do a video on 7th chords inversions I'll truly appreciate it..Big fan of your work
Thank you :)
Hey Michael! what would be the best practice routine for blues and rock and roll? everywhere i go i always find either jazz or classical piano. Please help out!
Hi Anshul, the best advice I was given with learning any style: jazz, pop, rock, blues etc. is to transcribe them. Listen to simple tracks you like and copy the melody down. If you can't do that, work on your aural skills first with and ear training app.
Mike handsome, how big is your ..... hand? Is it the case in playing the piano that the bigger, the better?
you've got sime high IQ bro and I like your logic. Well PLAYED :)
hey ! can u make a vidéo about trills???
Thanks for this series Michael, interesting stuff. My question is ... is it okay to forget? I can play a piece for weeks and know it off by heart and then move on but then say two months later I can't play It from memory. I find this quite frustrating but is this normal?
anitacuk I think it's just normal. For me, it's the same. I'll have to practice it again (e.g from the sheet music) but I'll get used to it much faster than in the initial learning process. So it's not really gone. :)
Awesome shirt! Where did you get it?
I recognized Enterprise and Millenium Falcon, but what's the third?
Hi, Michael
Just wondering where you got your awesome shirt
Shiny shirt, man!
he never gets to the point
La Campanella...
Weewee