Hi Everyone (& Tomo),
The live stream last night about slow practice really made me re-evaluate how I practice. And even how mindful one should be while doing so.
I have been practising the R37 swing in Bb at 60bpm but to test the hypothesis I went even slower at 50bpm. I noticed a number of things to work on thanks to user Smooth Buddha for posting his R37 recently and Tomo's feedback (and the slow practice stream last night). I too had been missing the odd upstroke. And personally I even heard some small string noise (not the muted sound you want) on my upstroke before chord changes.
I also practised chromatic scales again and at a 50bpm pace to really keep it slow and once again it allowed me to hear that I wasn't sustaining the notes like I should have been. And to sustain the note all the time is pretty intense exercise. Thanks for the feedback on my chromatic scales video, teacher.
My takeaway and conclusion is slow practise along with putting away your ego can really help you notice things to work on. At a slow pace you notice the small details and nuances in sound and technique that is easy to miss when you go faster.
Now I think I'm beginning to understand why Tomo says don't ask why lol. Just focus on what you are doing and be in the moment. Having an open mind (and) and less ego can go a long way. The journey is the destination :)
Cheers Sensei!
Thank you for sharing this thought.
So happy to hear that you understood my point.
It's so hard to understand this way if your mind is looking for an answer or just thinking a little ahead.
When I teach in private lessons, I would love to teach many things but One Thing is far important than More things.
So I would go super slow! If student is just playing something in the beginning of our lesson, I just wait until student is stop playing anything. "Natural" feeling that "Empty mind" "Drop all your opinions" Then I start to talk & explain.
I am teaching the 4th week at Berklee College Of Music. I have so many students. We all are still working on triads, R 3 7 Swing, Blue Monk (super clean melody & solo etude) and Chicken Shack Melody, Clean Shuffle Bass Line and soloing specific positions for two chorus etc. Then we can finally move to next steps. Some of these students are talking more than one semester with me, those guys are learning something else but we always revisit these foundation. I love teaching!
As a matter of fact, I still practice my R 3 7 Swing Groove with slow tempo.
1) No metronome 2) Metronome at 50, 48, 46, 44 etc. So hard to do very well.
Yes! I loved watching Smooth Buddha 's demo on R 3 7 swing groove. Play in that tempo is good. But what if other person doing same thing and not making a demo video.... never notice these detail matters. Then it's so hard to improve well. Through these exercises, you will become so patient! I became super patient so that I can improve! You can improve!
You're very welcome! I still practice my chromatic scale so slow so that I can hear my finger & string noises. I need to maintain my techniques. I watch each note's duration, check not pressing too hard (left fingers), both hand timing. Many things!
Good job! You got it!
When you receive one assignment. Until everything settle down, should not have any questions yet.
If you do, If I answer... you repeat that and go on circle ⭕️ over and over!
Thank you!
Tomo
Hi,
Btw while I agree with almost everything you have suggested, I still want to know why! :) Haha!
Seriously speaking, as an educator myself (not in music), I think there is still a way to tell students what they are learning, how to do it and why. For example, if a student asks why you need to do chromatic scales slowly or do them at all, a teacher could tell them it will help them with tone or technique or finger strength etc. As you said in your last stream, there are many different types of learners and at times we have to meet them where they are.
Food for thought from a teacher to a teacher.
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing as an educator. I really appreciate it.
I believe that some answers are waiting (doing by each students).
My job is to bring my students to there (in private lessons).
I will do as much as I can.
Thank you
Tomo