“Good, Better, Best

Never let it Rest

Until Your Good is Better

And Your Better is Best.”

Practicing Tips

Practice at Home at least six days per week

Have a ROUTINE

Practice at the same time and in the same place each day.

Focus on TONE QUALITY

Open your session working on a big, beautiful sound.  Focus on how your bow connects with the string.

Focus on INTONATION

Listen very closely to your finger placement of each note.

      Scales and arpeggios are the foundation for all that we do as string players.

      I love cello drones – a CD that can help immensely with intonation and improvisation. 

Available at http://www.navarrorivermusic.com

Practice specific TECHNIQUES

Shifting, vibrato, bow strokes, articulation, double stops, etc.

Isolating these techniques early will help you master them within the music.

Ask Mr. Stott or see the ‘Literature’ page of the web site for recommended resources.

       Practice ETUDES

                   These exercises will take your technique to new heights. 

              These are applications of the above techniques.

Practice SOLO Literature

             This should be the heart of your practice session.  40-50% of your time should be spent here.

Spend a large percentage of your time on challenging passages 

I recommend always concurrently studying two contrasting solo pieces.  Example: one slow, one fast.

Talk to Mr. Stott, or see the ‘Literature’ page of the web site for recommended pieces. 

REPETITION is the key to mastering the challenges

Play difficult passages over and over and over

Be CREATIVE in your practice

       Change the rhythms, tempos, bowings, etc.  Add double stops, improvise. 

       Play a different STYLE of music each day

      Example: learn a new piece in one of the below styles each week!

Bluegrass, Jazz, Latin, Blues, Gypsy, Klezmer, Rock, Country, Gospel, R&B…

      *If you have the technique, you can play it on a stringed instrument!

Finish your practice session with SUCCESS

Perform something you can play well, and play it beautifully

       Utilize the INTERNET

Find recordings and study them

                  Watch a pro play your piece on youtube

                  Find recordings and music of the style you like online

PARENTS: Encourage your child to practice and

let them know when you like what you hear.