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Learning how to practice correctly
can dramatically increase the speed at which you progress.
True practicing is very different from just playing.
If you are always working on songs/pieces that you can play,
then you are playing, not practicing. When you
practice, you should work on a song/piece that includes
some challenging passages. The act of properly practicing
involves four major steps.
Read and clap the rhythm of the piece. You may choose to
read it using rhythm syllables or by counting.
If you encounter any rhythm patterns which seemed difficult,
stop and repeat the pattern until you can read and clap it
correctly and in tempo with the rest of the piece.
If you are looking at a song in Squeaky's Songbook, you
may
want to push the play button and clap the rhythm as the computer
lights up each note.
Read the names of the notes. When doing this, you will
want to read the notes in rhythm. Once again, if you
encounter any notes you are unsure of, stop and repeat the
measure. Continue to repeat the piece until you can
read it in tempo. If you are looking at a song in
Squeaky's Songbook, you may want to push the
solo line button
and then the play button. Be sure to say the names of the
notes as the computer plays each note. If the song is too
fast, slow it down by moving the tempo button.
Chin it. Place the recorder on your chin, and 'play'
the piece. You will not blow into the recorder, just be
sure to finger each note and name each note. Again,
be sure to repeat this step until you can 'chin play' the entire
piece correctly without stopping. If you are
looking at a song in Squeaky's Songbook, you
may want to push
the solo line button and then the
play button. Be sure to
say the names of the notes and finger each note as the computer
plays it. If the song is too fast, slow it down by moving
the tempo button.
Play the piece SOFTLY!! Remember, it doesn't take a lot of
air to play the recorder, so play super soft! If you have
successfully completed steps 1-3, you should be able to play the
selection. If you have trouble in an area, stop, and
examine the specific measure where you are struggling.
Play over the specific notes until you can play the measure
correctly. Then, you may return to the beginning and play
the entire piece. If you are looking at a song in
Squeaky's Songbook, you may want to push the
solo line button
and then the play button. If the song is too fast, slow it
down by moving the tempo button. Once you can play the
piece, try turning off the solo line and
record you performance!
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