You are feeling bored for 2 reasons:
"Chunking" is a great technique, breaking down the parts in to harder and easier parts and focusing on the hard parts until they become the easy ones is a great goal.
Everyone is different and the one thing that makes a difference is goal setting/meeting/attaining/exceeding. If someone's goals are # of songs versus technical perfection, THAT is what matters and what they need to be focusing on. Tom has proven that he is:
Thanks Jerry! It did take a while to get to this. And it’s complicated by the fact that for next summer I want to play different tunes, so between now and then, two steps back, one forward. So I will still be repertoire over complexity for awhile….Everyone is different and the one thing that makes a difference is goal setting/meeting/attaining/exceeding. If someone's goals are # of songs versus technical perfection, THAT is what matters and what they need to be focusing on. Tom has proven that he is:
- goal oriented
- knows how to plan set and attain goals
- knows his desired direction
Those 3 things alone set him in the top 10 percentile to succeed at his goals.
Maybe it wasn't explained properly or I am not quite catching it, but scales on an accordion Stradella system left hand are easy for one main reason... once you learn a scale in one key, it has a pattern and that patter NEVER changes irrespective of what key you play in.
Maybe it wasn't explained properly or I am not quite catching it, but scales on an accordion Stradella system left hand are easy for one main reason... once you learn a scale in one key, it has a pattern and that patter NEVER changes irrespective of what key you play in.
So, for example you learn the fingering for a simple C-scale, that pattern is 100% repeated and by movingup to the next button you are in G, then D, A, E, B, F#. C#, etc...
If you do the same thing but move 1 button down from C, you are now playing that same scale in F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, etc...
Oh, you want to learn MINOR scales? Thats a slightly different pattern (one finger different in truth!), so now we are learning a 2nd pattern and from there we can again use that pattern and play minor scales in ANY key. So from 2 patters we can play alll scales in major and minor keys... for example.
Yes Tom, All good goals it is easy to forget all the hard work you have put into your existing repertoire I'm sure you will continue to maintain it .
Left hand you can practice scales by playing the bass notes, and the counter bass notes. The finger pattern will be the same, no matter which key you start on.
You are feeling bored for 2 reasons:
- You are not practicing the piece with CONCERTED FOCUSED EFFORT at a very slow speed, you are just going through the motions.
- You are not looking at the big picture, you have no set goals for this part of the practice.
To remove these 2 constraints:
- set goals for everything. ie: I want to master these 4 measures of music PERFECTLY at metronome speeds of 30BPS, 40BPS and 50BPS today. Tomorrow I will start from 40BPS and move to 50BPS and end at 60BPS. The goal is 120BPS and I will attain it in 7 days and I have a written plan EVERY DAY to get to that goal at every practice session and day for the next next 7 days. During the time I am reviewing all parts of the music that I want to play and by the end of the week place the chunks together into one song.
- Mindless practice means just that... you are not engaged, which means for the most part, you are bored and more importantly, wasting your time. If you do a practice PROPERLY, you should feel slightly (or more) mentally fatigued by the time the practice session is over.
80% of playing is in the head, 20% in the hands. What is on your mind as you play so slow? If it's ANYTHING else other than the goals in front of you, it is mindless and a waste of time.
Why isn't it the mechanics of the part you are trying to master? Do you feel each finger hit the EXACT note for the EXACT duration? Is your fingering correct? Is your intonation correct? ARE YOU SEEING THE BIG PICTURE CLEARLY? Meaning, do you have a clear and defined path to success?
Now, is it OK to do mindless practice? For sure! I do it when the goal is NOT to learn a piece of music but when doing exercises, because my mind is focused on doing the exercise that I have been doing for 40 years BETTER and FASTER. That takes very little focus on the music, but it takes concentration and effort to feel the limits of your fingers and push them past that, push past the burning sensation when you have done arpeggios for 30 minutes and your forearm feels like it's on fire. Focus on the lactic acid building up in those muscles and push past the discomfort for brief periods of time. The next day, its not the fingers that are the limitation but your mind and focus ON THE MUSIC.
"Chunking" is a great technique, breaking down the parts in to harder and easier parts and focusing on the hard parts until they become the easy ones is a great goal.
No need to be insulting. I'm sure boredom during intense, long practice sessions can happen to anybody, and I did say due to time constraints as well, because I play several instruments, and try to find time for all of them. It gets a little tedious when you have a job as a musician, and are constantly learning material on a weekly basis, as one must as a church organist. But as I said, no need to get condescending. And I wasn't necessary referring to myself - I know that other people can find that kind of practice quite tedious, and I was offering it as a suggestion to the poster.You are feeling bored for 2 reasons:
- You are not practicing the piece with CONCERTED FOCUSED EFFORT at a very slow speed, you are just going through the motions.
- You are not looking at the big picture, you have no set goals for this part of the practice.
To remove these 2 constraints:
- set goals for everything. ie: I want to master these 4 measures of music PERFECTLY at metronome speeds of 30BPS, 40BPS and 50BPS today. Tomorrow I will start from 40BPS and move to 50BPS and end at 60BPS. The goal is 120BPS and I will attain it in 7 days and I have a written plan EVERY DAY to get to that goal at every practice session and day for the next next 7 days. During the time I am reviewing all parts of the music that I want to play and by the end of the week place the chunks together into one song.
- Mindless practice means just that... you are not engaged, which means for the most part, you are bored and more importantly, wasting your time. If you do a practice PROPERLY, you should feel slightly (or more) mentally fatigued by the time the practice session is over.
80% of playing is in the head, 20% in the hands. What is on your mind as you play so slow? If it's ANYTHING else other than the goals in front of you, it is mindless and a waste of time.
Why isn't it the mechanics of the part you are trying to master? Do you feel each finger hit the EXACT note for the EXACT duration? Is your fingering correct? Is your intonation correct? ARE YOU SEEING THE BIG PICTURE CLEARLY? Meaning, do you have a clear and defined path to success?
Now, is it OK to do mindless practice? For sure! I do it when the goal is NOT to learn a piece of music but when doing exercises, because my mind is focused on doing the exercise that I have been doing for 40 years BETTER and FASTER. That takes very little focus on the music, but it takes concentration and effort to feel the limits of your fingers and push them past that, push past the burning sensation when you have done arpeggios for 30 minutes and your forearm feels like it's on fire. Focus on the lactic acid building up in those muscles and push past the discomfort for brief periods of time. The next day, its not the fingers that are the limitation but your mind and focus ON THE MUSIC.
"Chunking" is a great technique, breaking down the parts in to harder and easier parts and focusing on the hard parts until they become the easy ones is a great goal.
Judy, I apologize if I came across harsh, I was not meaning to be insulting at all, I am just very passionate.
