RG500
2 posts
Jan 03, 2012
11:00 AM
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I have been playing now for about 1 year. have been takining lessons from a great teacher for about 8 mos.
I am improving all the time. my question is what is the
best way to practice, if there is one, to get over the next hump.
thanks in advance for ant imput.
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eharp
1644 posts
Jan 03, 2012
11:16 AM
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set goals.
practice consistently.
use what you have learned.
btw- what did you teacher tell you?
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FMWoodeye
166 posts
Jan 03, 2012
11:50 AM
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What eharp said.
As I was training classically on the trombone, I was told by more than one teacher that frequency of practice sessions is more important then the length of the sessions, i.e., 20 minutes a day is better than the same amount of time spread over just one or two days. I would probably dispute that with respect to lip conditioning for a brass instrument. Still, if you keep a harp handy most of the time, it's surprising how much time you can get it in.
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hvyj
2037 posts
Jan 03, 2012
12:25 PM
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Things that I find useful to practice are: Scales in different positions. Bending accurately to pitch on all the available bends. Playing a head or melody i know well on all 12 harps (to even out my attack and technique going from key to key).
The thing about intensive practice is that progress is not necessarily linear. By that I mean you may struggle for quite a while and then all of a sudden improve dramatically and unexpectedly.
Oh, I almost forgot: Once upon a time I put quite a bit of intensive practice into developing proper deep embouchure, diaphragmatic air production, open and relaxed oral resonance chamber and tone production. This has to become second nature. But you can do this while working on everything else.
Last Edited by on Jan 03, 2012 12:31 PM
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Jim Rumbaugh
634 posts
Jan 03, 2012
7:15 PM
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Try to find something new to practice,
There is a difference between practicing the harp and playing the harp. If you just play the same stuff over and over, you will not grow. Always strive for something new.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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Rubes
455 posts
Jan 04, 2012
12:10 AM
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Check out backing tracks on youtube.....
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One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
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Steamrollin Stan
213 posts
Jan 04, 2012
1:11 AM
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Harmonica boogie .com is a fav of mine, no harm in looking.
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Littoral
459 posts
Jan 04, 2012
6:55 AM
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Yeah, Jim said: "Try to find something new to practice..."
Agreed, and make it something fun. Christmas carols are good, and tough enough. Useful things like Happy Birthday, Amazing Grace, and 2-3 tunes that you want to call with confidence when you sit in sometime.
And, accept that the instrument takes time to know.
Last Edited by on Jan 04, 2012 6:56 AM
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harpdude61
1206 posts
Jan 04, 2012
1:01 PM
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hvyj's last paragraph is soooo important. You can work on it while doing othe things, but sometimes it needs your undivided attention.
Once you learn maximum relaxation, breath control, and a BIG resonance chamber, all those fancy litle licks come much easier.
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Diggsblues
1132 posts
Jan 04, 2012
1:12 PM
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Ask your teacher he knows you better than we do.
Practicing stuff your not ready for is not good.
A teacher can monitor and prescribe what to do next.
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Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind
How you doin'
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colman
114 posts
Jan 09, 2012
6:17 AM
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I started to play in 1968 and there were no teachers around ,so i did the assimilation trip.for blues harp playing,i saw three basic styles to learn from in starting.Sonny Terry,Sonny boy williamson 2 & Little walter...studying these styles gave me a well rounded style of harp playing and i have never looked back,i learned the language ,now i sing the song...
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MakaInOz
55 posts
Jan 09, 2012
9:36 PM
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My advice is to play - take the step and play at a jam, or find a guitarist to play with. Playing 'for real' as opposed to practicing helped me appreciate what I was trying to achieve and focussed my practice accordingly.
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hvyj
2057 posts
Jan 10, 2012
5:05 AM
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Oh yeah--so long as you've got the basics down, you'll learn more playing with other musicians live on stage for 20 minutes than you will practicing for a month by yourself at home.
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kudzurunner
2920 posts
Jan 10, 2012
5:27 AM
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--Spend some portion of your practice time tapping your foot and playing to a beat and to a groove. This is extremely important. Learning how to keep a steady, solid beat is THE essential prelude to being able to play with other people. If you ever plan to play with other people, you can't skip this step
--Set a kitchen timer or a set a timer on your chronograph: 15 minutes, 30 minutes. Then forget about time and just play until the alarm goes off. Apply yourself fully for the whole practice period. You'll be amazed how much good exercise you can get in 30 minutes of daily practice/playing
--Spend at least a little time every day trying to learn something new. That way your mind is working on it while you're doing other things. (That's why daily practice is important if you want to make forward progress.)
--Follow your bliss. Play what you enjoy playing. Pay attention to moments or periods when the music feels boring or dead to you. When that happens, you should be working on something else.
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Frank
95 posts
Jan 10, 2012
6:53 AM
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Here is a nice metronome to help with solidify your time too- Link below...
LINK
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2012 6:54 AM
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