Practice tips

Practice makes Perfect.....Practice makes Perfect.....Practice makes Perfect

A teacher's favorite phrase. The phrase that makes students everywhere groan. The phrase that is associated with long, dreadful hours of playing monotonous-sounding scales and exercises.

Think Again!!!

While practicing any musical instrument can take hours of your time, it doesn't have to, if you know the key to getting work done quickly. Here's how:

1. Always warm-up

Now, this seems at first like a contradiction to what I just said, doesn't it? After all, warming up is the 5 extra minutes at the beginning of practice time that seems to do little other than adding a seemingly unnecessary thing onto your timetable. However, warming-up your fingers/voice in the beginning saves you from mistakes later on in your practice. You 'work-out' your fingers or your voice by doing simple, basic exercises to get them ready for the harder stuff. Here are some things you could do no matter what your instrument of choice is:

• Scales- anything from Do, Re, Mi, to La, la, la
• Chords- (piano)
• Alternating notes- (voice) la, fa, mi, do, re, fa, so, la, ti, do, re, do!! *sings Sound of Music*
• A simple song such as 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' or any Gavotte, Minuet that exercises simple chords, melodies, and harmonies

At the gym, you warm-up by stretching. It only takes 5-10 minutes, but is absolutely critical so that you don't injure yourself, but instead slowly get your body used to the motions. This is the same way with music-- it is critical to get your voice/fingers used to what you're going to be spending a chunk of time doing.

2. Attack repertoire next

Now that you're all warmed up, it's best to go to the songs that add on to what you just practiced. Depending on how much stuff your teacher assigned you and how long you have to practice, I'd say spend 1/2-2/3 of your time on this. These are the songs that you're really going to learn new techniques from. This will complement whatever other tasks you must do, whether recitals, accompanist positions, etc.

Here's some great repertoire books:

• Celebration series
• Suzuki method series
• Bastien books

3. Save performance songs for last

So why should you save this stuff for last? Well- b/c you're well warmed up by now. You've covered, and mastered techniques, spent time refining them, and learned theory. Put it all to work in these fancy, show-y, dramatic, emotion-tugging songs or tunes!

Music books

Aside from music theory, another resource that is needed among music teachers are music books with songs and other repertoire for the student to study. With so many repertoire books out there it's hard to narrow it down to which ones really work and are foundation-layers, and which ones are mere copycats or less-than-helpful guides.



So here are some of my favs.-



For String Instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello)

The Suzuki Method





For the Piano/Keyboard

Celebration Series

The Bastien Books

About EZ Muzic Theory

EZ Muzic Theory was created in order to provide an effective way to teach, learn, and experience music theory.

Using teaching methods, and providing tips on how to get started in the world of music, EZ's goal is to emphasize the importance of music theory. In a fast-paced world that wants to be caught up in the latest crazes, we sometimes forget that in order to achieve certain things, we must go back to the fundamentals. As the music/ipod/composing craze grows, music theory has an even more important role. Areas explored and addressed by EZ Muzic include:

How to find music software to get started on composing

Teaching tips

Resources that educate students/parents/teachers on the basics of theory

How to get started....

and so much more

Really, the possibilities to explore in music are endless! In addition, EZ Muzic believes that ANYONE can learn music and music theory, even if you have had zero exposure to music up until this point! By learning to recognize certain patterns and aspects of music, one will able to know as much as one who has studied music their entire life!

Psalm 108: 1-3

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples."

Coming Soon E-book Announcement!!

Expected to arrive any day now, is:

EZ MUZIC THEORY's publication of:

'The Fundamentals of Beginning Music Theory'!

Are you:

-Looking for a resource to learn music theory?

-someone who wants to get caught up in the music-composing craze and needs the foundational knowledge on how to start?

-a music teacher needing a guide on what basics need to be taught...and how?

-a student who loves music and wants to dive into what it's all about?

-a student who DOES NOT LIKE MUSIC and wants nothing to do with it...but NEEDS TO KNOW certain aspects for a course, or because your parents want you to?

-needing a tool because you just don't know what to do or where to start?

Then this e-book is the answer for you! Providing information and the tools to get started, 'The Fundamentals of Beginning Music Theory' is a work of compiled easy-to-understand information.

ALL of this is coming soon!! Keep checking this blog for the 'Now Posted' announcement!!!!

~~Providing an effective way to learn music theory~~