Do you have a new instrument you wish you could play better? Or did you get new music this year?
What are you going to do about learning it now?
I’ve never been big on New Year resolutions, they just never seem to last. That said, I’d like you think about taking another approach to accomplishing more music skill this year.
What About Setting Up Simple Objectives Rather Than Resolutions?
If learning music is one of them then now’s the time to get started. The trick will be in setting up a system that will not be just an objective, but a systematic approach that will allow you to get to that objective.
If learning music principles are part of your desire to increase your music abilities then getting them down cold should be your objectives.
The system of achieving the object will be a system of music elements laid out to be focused on in short time frames. It will cover:
* The basic music principle definition,
* Applying the definition to a specific key, scale, or chord, or music concept.
* Use of concept as applied to the instrument
* Practice to internalize the music element
* Polish and mastery to own the concept.
Here’s how that will work.
Pick a music principle such as a harmonic minor scale:
1. learn the definitions or mathematics (logic) of how it is formed
2. pick a specific key or note to start
3. workout the scale notes
4. transfer it to your instrument by identifying the specific location the notes are played
5. Play the notes, practice it slowly and talk your way through it for one octave
6. work the scale to two octaves
7. repeat it until smooth
8. add expression by counting rhythm and applying accents at different beats.
Total time to accomplish one goal, 30 to 40 minutes. Break it up over 3 or 4 days and you’re only spending 10 minutes a day on it. Easy and quick.
OK, instead of putting out a resolution that says you will learn more music principles you have now decided to set an objective to specifically learn a set of scales or chords or intervals. You laid out a set of steps to make that set have a measurable goal. You picked a time to allocate effort and a non-pressured sequence of time to make it happen.
There you go: write it down, set out a simple plan to meet your objective, do it.
Not sure that you know exactly what to accomplish? At the Music Learning Workshop we approach that with a 12 month music course teaching the fundamentals to intermediate music theory.
Tags: New Music, Touche Maestro