We often are too critical of ourselves when we are trying to learn a musical piece. We think we should be learning faster and that it should be easier than it is.
One technique that may help you overcome these negative feelings is to simply take a few minutes or a bit of time out of your schedule to watch some old performances of you or your children. Often when we or they see how far we've come on our musical journey, we can be more gentle on ourselves and remember we really have made progress. So, don't forget to keep making videos!
Helpful Hints When Learning A Song, Etude, Study, or Piece
* Try to prioritize the tough spots you need to master and break the song into segments.
Then, practice the segments one at a time
Then, practice the segments one at a time
* Use a metronome at a slow tempo to evenly learn the piece
* Here's a trick that the professionals use for learning a tough measure or phrase:
Practice one measure and stop. Practice the next measure and stop. You get the idea.
The picture at the top of this posting is one of Wynton Marsalis, famous trumpet player who was born and raised in New Orleans. He embodies the work ethic and stamina that being a musician demands as well as the joy of sharing his teaching and expertise. He's worth a Google search to remind you why you are taking this journey.
