Approach to Practice

Lesson 11/69 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Chromatic Harmonica Method

Approach to Practice

Regardless of the style of music you play, it is important to have a correct approach to practice. You will benefit more from several short practices (e.g., 20-30 minutes per day) than one or two long sessions per week. This is especially so in the early stages, because of the basic nature of the material being studied and also because your lips and facial muscles are still developing.

If you want to become a great player you will obviously have to practice more as time goes on, but it is still better to work on new things a bit at a time. Get one small piece of information and learn it well before going on to the next topic. Make sure each new thing you learn is thoroughly worked into your playing. This way you won’t forget it, and you can build on everything you learn.

In a practice session you should divide your time evenly between the study of new material and the revision of past work. It is a common mistake for semi-advanced students to practice only the pieces they can already play well. Although this is more enjoyable, it is not a very satisfactory method of practice. You should also try to correct mistakes and experiment with new ideas. It is the author’s belief that the guidance of an experienced teacher will be an invaluable aid in your progress. To develop a good feel for timing, it is essential that you always practice with a metronome or a drum machine.

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Class Sessions

1- INTRODUCTION 2- More About Major Scales 3- Sharps (<span class="symbolA">#</span>) and Flats (<span class="symbolA">b</span>) 4- Playing the Chromatic Scale 5- Solving Reading Problems 6- More About Keys and Key Signatures 7- Transposing 8- More About Blues Scales 9- Understanding Intervals 10- Minor Keys and Scales 11- Notes on the Chromatic Harmonica 12- Relative Keys 13- Performing in Public 14- Interval Qualities 15- Playing Octaves 16- The Key Cycle 17- The Harmonic Minor Scale 18- Sharp Key Signatures 19- Enharmonic Notes 20- Learning a New Minor Key 21- Major Scale Pattern 22- Overcoming Nerves 23- The Chromatic Harmonica 24- The Chromatic Scale 25- The C Major Scale 26- Swinging Notes 27- Intervals 28- Breathing Indicators 29- The Key of E Minor 30- Interval Distances 31- Major Scales in all Keys 32- The Melodic Minor Scale 33- Minor Scales in all Keys 34- Flat Key Signatures 35- The Blues Scale 36- Holding the Chromatic Harmonica 37- Eye Contact 38- The G Major Scale 39- Range of the Chromatic Harmonica 40- Table of Minor Scales 41- Understanding Music 42- Stage Presence and Stage Craft 43- Identifying Intervals by Ear 44- Using the Slide 45- Key Signatures 46- Using the Key Cycle 47- Note Values 48- Understanding Note Values 49- Developing Your Own Style 50- The F Major Scale 51- Jam Along Progressions 52- Standard Music Notation 53- Learning the Notes on the Staff 54- The Metronome 55- Microphones 56- Developing Your Music Reading 57- Keeping Time 58- Microphones for Performing Live 59- Playing Songs 60- Amplification 61- Slurs 62- Overdrive 63- Cut Common Time 64- Approach to Practice 65- Reading Without Numbers 66- Listening 67- Transcribing 68- Recording Yourself 69- Learning More about Music

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Approach to Practice