December 24, 2008
What is the best way to prepare before an Orchestra Concert?
Ravenna asked:
Tommorow–yes, the 15th of December–I will be performing with my school orchestra. Trouble is, I’m having trouble with two measures. What’s the best way to practice?
It’s a rather moderate piece, but it has crossing strings and slurs and when I attempt it–it doesn’t sound very nice.
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Comments on What is the best way to prepare before an Orchestra Concert? »
Practice…when not able to actually use the equipment or instruments or gym…VISUALIZE every facet of the activity and see yourself mastering the task…and the approval of the onlookers!
I’m not a string player, but try practicing extra slow and gradually speed it up.
That’s what the pros do, I promise!
Play the passage very slowly. If you mess up at all, start over. Then once you play it perfectly at that speed, ratchet it up a little. Once you can play it perfectly at that speed, speed it up again and again untill you can play it at concert tempo.
Doing this will not only embed the passage in your head, but it will also build “muscle memory” in your fingers, so playing the passagle will come without you even having to think about it.
Take those two measures and work on them very, very slowly. Then play them up to speed.
Good luck!
Practice it slowly at first. If you can’t play it perfectly slowly, then you certainly cannot play it perfectly fast.
Try to play it at the same slow tempo 3 times in a row. If you mess up on the 3rd time, start over. No cheating. If you can play it perfectly slowly 3 times in a row, it means it was not a coincidence that you played it perfectly. You have now acquired the skill to play that passage at that tempo.
Start over, but play it a little faster this time. Just a little faster. If you can play that 3 times in a row at that tempo, then move on to a faster tempo. Before you know it, you’ll be playing it perfectly!
This is the correct way to practice. Don’t be impatient. If you are impatient, it will actually take more time to perfect your passage.
Just keep practicing even though thats not what you want to hear. Theres no easy way out sry.