Knowing how to learn is much more important than knowing what to learn.
Here I'm working on Seven Daily Exercises Op. 5 by F. Reichert, a wonderful book that's one of my favorites when it comes to technique practice. I'm playing exercise #3 in the key of Bb minor, one of the most difficult for me.
The goal I always have for myself and my students is to make progress through deliberate and responsible practice. Often we start playing from beginning to end, over and over again, without a specific strategy. This not only delays the learning process, but can also develop bad habits that complicate the mechanics of the fingers and even create unnecessary muscle tension that can lead to injury. To avoid this, we need to stay focused and aware of what's happening with our body and our sound. Listen, identify the problem(s), and then address them in a creative and playful way.
Technical practice can be repetitive, but it doesn't have to bore you!
What technical exercises do you play and what are your favorites?
▶️ 3Speak
