Another good reason for taking breaks -> I know a lot of musicians who "level up" by taking breaks. Stop playing entirely for a couple 2-3 days and then come back to it. I'm not really sure how it works, but it's happened to me countless times. I come back to the instrument and suddenly, I'm doing things I was still trying to "get my head around" a couple days prior. I think the reason is related to the subconscious; it's probably still working on the physical "how-to's" of playing an instrument, even in your sleep. Especially if you're really mentally dedicated to the process.
what?? not playing your instrument for 2-3 days? That's the opposite of what basically everyone says... but I get your intuition. It's hard to measure which strategy is better because of individual circumstances but I am still skeptical that the benefit from the "reorganization of the brain" or whatever after taking a 3 day break is better vs just taking out your instrument for at least a few minutes every day.
I've had the same thing happen to me...not just with the flute. I'm also a dancer and I've had a difficult time with some of the tap steps I want to learn. If I practice them, and then sleep on it, I find I can do them effortlessly the next time I'm in class. Same with the flute. Do the deliberate practice and then sleep on it. It gives the brain time to create synapses, I think.
Why do I find your voice so soothing? It slows down the rush, the feeling of panic inside me that I won't get anywhere anytime soon with my flute and makes me slow down and get more focused. Whatever it is, whyever it is, it is helping. And I thank you.
Soooo good to hear this again, although I know it. But knowing it doesn't mean I do it.... 🙄😆 tomorrow I'll start again with a positive mind and practice sloooooowly. 🐌🐌🐌
I've worked on a PhD in Educational Psychology, and what you're describing is referred to as "Deliberate Practice". So nice to hear someone talking about this, and giving clues as to how to do it! Even though I'm familiar with the concept, and I practice a lot of what you're suggesting, I found as I watched that I'm still guilt of a few of the issues you raise. Good to be reminded!
Here's my technique: 1. Sight-read through the piece to get a feel for it. 2.Hum or sing the rhythm to make sure I'm counting it correctly. 3. Divide it into chunks and work on the first chunk...slowly. 4. Circle any measures that give me real trouble (that way I know exactly what I need to work on the next day). 5. Next day, practice just fingering the difficult bit without playing (with flute on my shoulder). 6. Try playing the difficult bit...again, slowly, until I can play it without mistakes. 7. Try and play the difficult bit up to the speed I'm working (which is still slowly, but in rhythm). 8. Increase the speed to match the markings (Moderato, or say, quarter note = 114). 9. Work on dynamics and everything needed to make it sound beautiful. 10. Lather, rinse, repeat with all other chunks, and then the whole piece.
Absolutely love this! Such lovely step-by-step approach. Having a system and being so deliberate (yes, deliberate practice!) really is such a game changer and it took me years to realize this!
Thank you so much for this video! I really needed that A while ago I was in a really bad mindset, always beating myself up for every little mistake, panic practicing (I had a really important exam coming up), not allowing myself to take breaks etc and eventually 6 months of that has lead to me getting carpal tunnel syndrome Definitely gonna try practice better when I get back to fluting
I’m so sorry to hear that! Our bodies eventually fight back 🙈 😩 but not a fun lesson to learn. I hope you can get back to it soon and discover so much more joy and progress in learning to work with your body 🙏🕺
Marvelous. I have always done that Played the piece through. Some with backing tracks. I'd go to a certain point. Mess up and have ti go back to the beginning. A pain. So what I did is I split it up into sections. I recorded sections of it on my Zoom recorder. Great. But it makes such sense. It is much more productive to do it in sections and gain confidence. Thanks.😅😅😅😅
Very, very good advice! During my undergraduate degree, panic practice was the bulk of my practicing, and I’m now paying the price for it 🥲, lol. I now find that with focused practice, I can get a lot done in 3 hours versus the 6 hours I used to spend being panicked 🫨. This advice indeed does work!! 😊❤
Thank you for this very practical and helpful information. I have a question. Does your advice regarding avoiding playing through entire pieces several times apply to scales? That is, should you not repeat entire scales several times during practice? I often times have difficulty in the higher registers. Thank you!
Great question! So here’s what I recommend students do: Play through your scale and ask yourself: what could I do better or what needs work. Consider the problem more carefully and think how you could play the scale again to start working toward solving the problem, eg. Just play the notes in the high register part of the scale. Then play it again and either repeat the process if you have the patience or move on. You’ve moved in the right direction and that done over several days and weeks will move you forward. Hope that helps!
They are very similar. The 2024 journal has additional materials and QR codes for more resources but they do the exact same thing. Many community members bought the 2023 journal and filled it out completely, so we bring out a new journal each year so they can get started with a fresh one. If you have the 2023 and have just started using it, enjoy it! I am happy to send you some of the additional resources if you would like!
yeah right, i can't even make a sound on the flute im so fresh lol, hello, flute noobie here, can someone explain how to make a sound on the flute, im not getting it no matter how many explanations i watch embouchure who? no vague explanations please, important to note, im using a bamboo side blown from Erik the flute maker, advice welcome
Another good reason for taking breaks -> I know a lot of musicians who "level up" by taking breaks. Stop playing entirely for a couple 2-3 days and then come back to it. I'm not really sure how it works, but it's happened to me countless times. I come back to the instrument and suddenly, I'm doing things I was still trying to "get my head around" a couple days prior. I think the reason is related to the subconscious; it's probably still working on the physical "how-to's" of playing an instrument, even in your sleep. Especially if you're really mentally dedicated to the process.
I have seen this happen with so many students! It’s pretty cool to hear it’s not just my experience!
what?? not playing your instrument for 2-3 days? That's the opposite of what basically everyone says... but I get your intuition. It's hard to measure which strategy is better because of individual circumstances but I am still skeptical that the benefit from the "reorganization of the brain" or whatever after taking a 3 day break is better vs just taking out your instrument for at least a few minutes every day.
I've had the same thing happen to me...not just with the flute. I'm also a dancer and I've had a difficult time with some of the tap steps I want to learn. If I practice them, and then sleep on it, I find I can do them effortlessly the next time I'm in class. Same with the flute. Do the deliberate practice and then sleep on it. It gives the brain time to create synapses, I think.
Why do I find your voice so soothing?
It slows down the rush, the feeling of panic inside me that I won't get anywhere anytime soon with my flute and makes me slow down and get more focused.
Whatever it is, whyever it is, it is helping.
And I thank you.
Ah! That is so wonderful to hear. May it be the voice that continues to encourage you all the way!
Soooo good to hear this again, although I know it. But knowing it doesn't mean I do it.... 🙄😆 tomorrow I'll start again with a positive mind and practice sloooooowly. 🐌🐌🐌
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 yes yes and yes! I forget too!
I've worked on a PhD in Educational Psychology, and what you're describing is referred to as "Deliberate Practice". So nice to hear someone talking about this, and giving clues as to how to do it! Even though I'm familiar with the concept, and I practice a lot of what you're suggesting, I found as I watched that I'm still guilt of a few of the issues you raise. Good to be reminded!
Thank you Tatiana, that is so helpful!
This video offers really helpful advice for learning music on ANY instrument! Thank you so much!
Absolutely! Glad it was useful 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Here's my technique: 1. Sight-read through the piece to get a feel for it. 2.Hum or sing the rhythm to make sure I'm counting it correctly. 3. Divide it into chunks and work on the first chunk...slowly. 4. Circle any measures that give me real trouble (that way I know exactly what I need to work on the next day). 5. Next day, practice just fingering the difficult bit without playing (with flute on my shoulder). 6. Try playing the difficult bit...again, slowly, until I can play it without mistakes. 7. Try and play the difficult bit up to the speed I'm working (which is still slowly, but in rhythm). 8. Increase the speed to match the markings (Moderato, or say, quarter note = 114). 9. Work on dynamics and everything needed to make it sound beautiful. 10. Lather, rinse, repeat with all other chunks, and then the whole piece.
Absolutely love this! Such lovely step-by-step approach. Having a system and being so deliberate (yes, deliberate practice!) really is such a game changer and it took me years to realize this!
Thank you for this! So helpful! ❤
Thank you so much for this video! I really needed that
A while ago I was in a really bad mindset, always beating myself up for every little mistake, panic practicing (I had a really important exam coming up), not allowing myself to take breaks etc and eventually 6 months of that has lead to me getting carpal tunnel syndrome
Definitely gonna try practice better when I get back to fluting
I’m so sorry to hear that! Our bodies eventually fight back 🙈 😩 but not a fun lesson to learn. I hope you can get back to it soon and discover so much more joy and progress in learning to work with your body 🙏🕺
Marvelous. I have always done that
Played the piece through. Some with backing tracks. I'd go to a certain point. Mess up and have ti go back to the beginning. A pain. So what I did is I split it up into sections. I recorded sections of it on my Zoom recorder. Great. But it makes such sense. It is much more productive to do it in sections and gain confidence. Thanks.😅😅😅😅
Wonderful! I’m excited to see your practice change. It’s so powerful to practice this way 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Very, very good advice! During my undergraduate degree, panic practice was the bulk of my practicing, and I’m now paying the price for it 🥲, lol. I now find that with focused practice, I can get a lot done in 3 hours versus the 6 hours I used to spend being panicked 🫨. This advice indeed does work!! 😊❤
Thank you so much! Huge help!
Thank you for this very practical and helpful information. I have a question. Does your advice regarding avoiding playing through entire pieces several times apply to scales? That is, should you not repeat entire scales several times during practice? I often times have difficulty in the higher registers. Thank you!
Great question! So here’s what I recommend students do:
Play through your scale and ask yourself: what could I do better or what needs work.
Consider the problem more carefully and think how you could play the scale again to start working toward solving the problem, eg. Just play the notes in the high register part of the scale.
Then play it again and either repeat the process if you have the patience or move on. You’ve moved in the right direction and that done over several days and weeks will move you forward. Hope that helps!
Thank you!
Thank you!
What is the difference between the 2023 and 2024 version of the Practice Journal? So far the descriptions look identical?
They are very similar. The 2024 journal has additional materials and QR codes for more resources but they do the exact same thing. Many community members bought the 2023 journal and filled it out completely, so we bring out a new journal each year so they can get started with a fresh one. If you have the 2023 and have just started using it, enjoy it! I am happy to send you some of the additional resources if you would like!
Hi Tatjana,
That would be awesome, to get the additional resources of the 2024 version!
You should find me in your distribution list.
Thanks!
Was not able to register and then log in :(🙃
Oh no! Did you try to register for our learning platform?
yeah right, i can't even make a sound on the flute im so fresh lol, hello, flute noobie here, can someone explain how to make a sound on the flute, im not getting it no matter how many explanations i watch embouchure who? no vague explanations please, important to note, im using a bamboo side blown from Erik the flute maker, advice welcome
Mam whenever i starts learning flute , in 3 - 4 days i get cough or dizziness in head. Please help me .
Btw i learning indian classical flute