Beginner Not enough time......

Jay

Senior Member
I bought a nifty bit of plastic and a clip, called a sound mirror, so I can actually hear myself (instead of standing in the corner, which brings back too many memories of junior school......)

And now I can hear myself. Hmmmmm.

So, I found Pete's Thomas's overtones exercise and tried that. I can even make one or two harmonics happen on purpose now. Sometimes. Though unaccountably, it hasn't made me sound like Dexter Gordon yet.

Overtones, scales, tonguing, vibrato, improvising, gotta play some tunes for fun too.....need several hours a day. Could give up work I suppose, but that might cause its own problems.

Supposing I only have an hour most days - what are the best things to spend time on? I would like my tone to improve, my fingers to speed up, my tongue and fingers to co-ordinate.......
 
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I taught band for many years and one of the challenges was exactly what you describe. How to cover as many bases as possible in a limited amount of time. Each 45 minute rehearsal was constructed in a similar fashion.

Long tones/listening/tuning
Tonguing/articulation
Scales
Pieces we were learning
Playing familiar tune(s) for fun

In a private practice situation long tones and overtones could be combined. So could scales and tonguing if each scale tone were repeated, or if the scales were played fast and tongued. The bulk of the time could be spent on songs you are learning to play and improvise to the changes to. Playing previously learned songs for fun at the end both leaves you wanting more, and it is a good review of material you have worked on previously. It is helpful to write down a plan and then stick to it.
 
Buy a finger exerciser, guitarists have been using them for years to increase not just finger strength, but dexterity, as well as speed. I bought several - they come in different strengths, years ago in a guitar shop in Singapore - Swee Lee, the ones I bought are branded Gripmaster and come in three colours blue - light strength, red - medium strength, and black - heavy strength. Every guitar shop in the U.K. sell a version of them, the good thing about them is that they really are pocket size so you can take it everywhere with you, you exercise each finger individually so you improve your over all dexterity and speed - each finger has it's own spring to push down.

Here is a link to the ones I bought over 10 years ago:

http://www.prohands.net/products/gripmaster.php

One of the best things about this is it doesn't eat into your practice time, as you can do it anywhere, on public transport, while watching TV at night, it doesn't have to interfere with the time you have to play your instrument - which can be limited due to the noise they make and neighbours.

Nomad
 
Don't be put off. Sound comes from you. A lot depends on learning to open your throat as you blow, so much depends on resonances in your airways.

But most of the recordings here have been enhanced... Reverb, eq,....
 
Ha, air-brushed sound.

But my teacher isn't airbrushed, and sounds amazing. Even on my sax.

So - on with the long tones/overtones.
 
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It's just which adverb to add after 'I can play' that I have trouble with.
Don't add one. It's just discouraging. Add a noun or noun phrase. Eg "I can play a C major scale at 80bpm, but I can't play it at 85bpm" or maybe it's 240bpm but not 245.. Or "I can play 'Three Blind Mice' but it doesn't sound quite in tune". Find something you can nearly do and work on it until it's easy. Then choose what to learn next. Let the music you want to play be your guide to the skills you need to learn next.
 
Playing Christmas stuff with the local Trad band in the town centre yesterday I found I can play a tune I haven't practiced, but I can't play a tune in Eb when I've practiced it in F. That middle 8 in Winter wonderland is a right pain.
 
Don't add one. It's just discouraging. Add a noun or noun phrase. Eg "I can play a C major scale at 80bpm, but I can't play it at 85bpm" or maybe it's 240bpm but not 245.. Or "I can play 'Three Blind Mice' but it doesn't sound quite in tune". Find something you can nearly do and work on it until it's easy. Then choose what to learn next. Let the music you want to play be your guide to the skills you need to learn next.
Damn, I was working my way through synonyms for superbly.
 

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