Comments on: Metronome Trick No. 1 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33 flutist Zara Lawler explores the techniques and principles of good music practice Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:44:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: admin http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-466 admin Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:25:47 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-466 That looks like a cool site, and very useful. I also like how you can change the color of the metronome. Thanks for the tip! That looks like a cool site, and very useful. I also like how you can change the color of the metronome. Thanks for the tip!

]]> By: Malcolm Payne http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-465 Malcolm Payne Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:51:42 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-465 Hello, I just read your Metronome No. 1 method and I think it's a marvelous Idea! I saw your suggestions with the tempo markings and I'd like to direct you to this site: http://www.metronomeonline.com/ It has the exact(or at least almost exact) tempo markings you recommended :) I haven't seen all of your site, so I'm not sure if you already have it; but if so, here you go again! Hello, I just read your Metronome No. 1 method and I think it’s a marvelous Idea! I saw your suggestions with the tempo markings and I’d like to direct you to this site:

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

It has the exact(or at least almost exact) tempo markings you recommended :) I haven’t seen all of your site, so I’m not sure if you already have it; but if so, here you go again!

]]> By: Metronome Trick No. 1 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-365 Metronome Trick No. 1 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:38:21 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-365 [...] On April 15th, 2009 at 4:05 am Helen Says:While I agree this is a strong foundational method for learning fast passages, for me, it’s not the *quickest* way. I have another, if you are interested, I’ll elaborate. [...] [...] On April 15th, 2009 at 4:05 am Helen Says:While I agree this is a strong foundational method for learning fast passages, for me, it’s not the *quickest* way. I have another, if you are interested, I’ll elaborate. [...]

]]> By: The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » When in Doubt, Slow Down http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-260 The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » When in Doubt, Slow Down Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:01:07 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-260 [...] practicing playing.  I don’t know any good tricks for speaking like I do for playing (such as Metronome Trick No 1), so the only thing I could think of to try was to slow it [...] [...] practicing playing.  I don’t know any good tricks for speaking like I do for playing (such as Metronome Trick No 1), so the only thing I could think of to try was to slow it [...]

]]> By: Helen http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-32 Helen Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:14:30 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-32 Sure, although I'm not sure to whom I should credit this idea. It's one of those that I picked up on the way, then it got mixed up with my own ideas and those of others - if I'd kept a better practice notebook I could be more clear! :-) I do start by looking at a passage slowly, to get familiar with it and see if there are possibilities for alternate fingerings, etc. Then when I want to get up to speed: Start at the end, and take as large or small a chunk that you *can* play at tempo, even if it's only 3 to 5 notes. Then do your repetition work - and/or mix with different rhythms. Work backwards, taking the previous chunk - but keep the last note of your new chunk the same as the first of the previous. Keep going back in chunks until you reach the beginning. The reason I work backwards: if I feel confident, then I can keep going past my small chunk, even to the end if possible. It's usually the notes at the end of a passage that mess you up. Not necessarily because they may be harder, but because your brain might be lagging behind. So I think the end notes benefit from this extra repetition. Then, you set the metronome slower to a speed where you can play the whole passage correctly. 1) play it as written 2) repeat up to 4-5 times using different rhythms (I have my own set, but you can make up your own - any will do) 3) play it again as written but faster The next day or next practice session, go through the passage slowly, then attempt larger chunks at tempo (still working backwards), then repeat the above 3 steps, you'll find you can do it faster. I know this seems like a lot of steps - but I find to get things really up to tempo fast, it really helps. I've been thinking about a digital version of the metronome markings for two steps up and one step down. I don't think I can come up with a fixed and fast rule - it will depend on the difficulty of the piece, whether I inch my way up or go at leaps and bounds. Hope all this makes sense! Sure, although I’m not sure to whom I should credit this idea. It’s one of those that I picked up on the way, then it got mixed up with my own ideas and those of others – if I’d kept a better practice notebook I could be more clear! :-)

I do start by looking at a passage slowly, to get familiar with it and see if there are possibilities for alternate fingerings, etc.
Then when I want to get up to speed:
Start at the end, and take as large or small a chunk that you *can* play at tempo, even if it’s only 3 to 5 notes. Then do your repetition work – and/or mix with different rhythms.

Work backwards, taking the previous chunk – but keep the last note of your new chunk the same as the first of the previous. Keep going back in chunks until you reach the beginning. The reason I work backwards: if I feel confident, then I can keep going past my small chunk, even to the end if possible. It’s usually the notes at the end of a passage that mess you up. Not necessarily because they may be harder, but because your brain might be lagging behind. So I think the end notes benefit from this extra repetition.

Then, you set the metronome slower to a speed where you can play the whole passage correctly.
1) play it as written
2) repeat up to 4-5 times using different rhythms (I have my own set, but you can make up your own – any will do)
3) play it again as written but faster

The next day or next practice session, go through the passage slowly, then attempt larger chunks at tempo (still working backwards), then repeat the above 3 steps, you’ll find you can do it faster.

I know this seems like a lot of steps – but I find to get things really up to tempo fast, it really helps.

I’ve been thinking about a digital version of the metronome markings for two steps up and one step down. I don’t think I can come up with a fixed and fast rule – it will depend on the difficulty of the piece, whether I inch my way up or go at leaps and bounds.

Hope all this makes sense!

]]> By: admin http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-31 admin Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:23:26 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-31 Let me know what you end up working out and how you like it...and i'm intrigued to hear your other fast passage technique...care to share it here? Let me know what you end up working out and how you like it…and i’m intrigued to hear your other fast passage technique…care to share it here?

]]> By: Helen http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-29 Helen Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:05:00 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-29 While I agree this is a strong foundational method for learning fast passages, for me, it's not the *quickest* way. I have another, if you are interested, I'll elaborate. One problem I have with this method using the old-school metronomes is that two metronome clicks are usually too many (too fast too soon) - I think I'll make another scheme using a digital one. Thanks for sharing this! While I agree this is a strong foundational method for learning fast passages, for me, it’s not the *quickest* way. I have another, if you are interested, I’ll elaborate.

One problem I have with this method using the old-school metronomes is that two metronome clicks are usually too many (too fast too soon) – I think I’ll make another scheme using a digital one.

Thanks for sharing this!

]]> By: The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » How I Memorize Music http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-20 The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » How I Memorize Music Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:17:22 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-20 [...] I work on the passage using Metronome Trick No. 1, and at every tempo level I do the [...] [...] I work on the passage using Metronome Trick No. 1, and at every tempo level I do the [...]

]]> By: The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » Make a Loop http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33&cpage=1#comment-12 The Practice Notebook » Blog Archive » Make a Loop Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:09:34 +0000 http://www.zaralawler.com/blog/?p=33#comment-12 [...] practiced it using Metronome Trick No. 1, and at each tempo level repeated the loop at least 4 [...] [...] practiced it using Metronome Trick No. 1, and at each tempo level repeated the loop at least 4 [...]

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