Practicing is the process of transforming musical notes into musical expressions. This process involves physical and mental developments.

Physical developments

Physical developments include improvement of skills (technical and physical) and/or acquisition of new ones. Practicing hones the skills we have and help us find new ones through study, exploration, and research.  Proper skills allow us to make the most of the instruments we use to make music.  Having the right instrument and knowing how to use them are the keys to success.  The instrument we choose may be played by our hands, fingers, lips, feet, etc., but our know-how is stored in the brain.

DON'T REPEAT MISTAKES
Our brain is a sophisticated recorder of events. Everything we do becomes a part of our memory whether we like it or not. The memory process begins with the first time we do something new.  Each time it's repeated, the memory deepens. Back-to-back repetition hastens the deepening process while occasional repetitions slows the process. These memories fade with inactivity but are seldom totally forgotten.

Some of the memories stored in our brain are referred to as muscle memory. (Some scientists believe that the muscles themselves are capable of storing local memories.) These muscle memories are often called dexterity, skill, habit, etc.  Regular repetitions and frequent usage reinforce them while disuse allows them to fade.  Building desirable muscle memories enhances our skills while undesirable repetitions hamper them.

PRACTICE ACCURATELY
Each time we do something correctly and repeat it consistently, we develop good muscle memory.  Conversely, each time we do something incorrectly and repeat it, we develop bad muscle memory.  Doing something similar that seems to work is not the same as doing it consistently.  So, be careful to really understand what you're trying to accomplish in practice at that moment and be consistent.

Skills develop rapidly when the activity is repeated consistently. So, to learn quickly, do it right from the beginning and repeat it exactly the same way without any diversion.  The small difference between doing it consistently and sort of the same way is the huge difference between rapid growth and slow growth.

PRACTICE REGULARLY AND OFTEN

PRACTICE AT THE PROPER TEMPO
Within each person is a clock that synchronizes our activities which determines our muscular coordination. Much of practicing should be devoted to fine tuning this clock. When we practice remedial exercises such as scales, arpeggios, etc., we should use a metronome to help develop this internal clock.  This is also true when rehearsing a piece of music we just recently learned. Always start with a tempo that allows you to play comfortably and progress gradually until you've reached your targeted tempo. 

Many people make the mistake of practicing the easier sections faster and slowing down for the difficult passages. It's more beneficial to isolate the difficult passages and devote more time to them at the negotiable tempo.  When they're sufficiently improved, play the entire piece (or section) again at the improved tempo.  Repeat this process until you can play the entire piece at the desired tempo. Of course, you can play the easier sections faster and slow down for the difficult passages from time to time as a review.  But, doing so regularly will impede your progress.

Muscles have limits in terms of strength, flexibility, agility, precision and reflexes. However, these limits are expandable to a large extent. When muscles are activated, they draw additional nutrient via increased blood supply to the region. This increase provides the additional energy required for the given level of activity.  As we put more demand (stress) on the muscle, more nutrient is provided automatically allowing the muscle to respond accordingly. With increased nutrient, the muscle becomes more capable in strength and flexibility until it reaches its limit.  We recognize this point when we feel fatigue and observe the diminishing of strength.

It is prudent to rest the muscle at this point because the risk of injury is high if we put additional demand on the tired muscle.  During the rest period, waste product from the burning of the additional nutrient is carried away as the muscle and blood circulation return toward normal.  (The waste product translate to the soreness we feel in the muscle after rigorous activity.)  While resting, the muscle is also rebuilding itself.  It is this rebuilding that allows the muscle to perform even better the next time around.  We stress the muscle by exercising so that it will rebuild itself to become even more capable.  This is commonly called conditioning.

With the right exercises, we can greatly improve the capabilities of our muscles.

Mental Developments

Mental development begins with having good information. Bad information steers you in the wrong direction and requires additional time to undo its damages. Good information includes facts, testimonials of successful techniques, scientifically based conclusions, results of reliable studies and successful methods.  Most of all, successful results are the best proof of good information.

PRACTICE POSITIVELY
Practicing can be a bitter-sweet experience. On the one hand, it's fun once you get into it. Yet, it can be aggravating when improvements don't seem to progress fast enough. When you become too frustrated, take a break or play something that'll make you feel good. Your mental and emotional state significantly effect your development. When you feel good, the learning process is sped up. Frustration and other negative emotions slow down your learning process.

Progress also seem to come in bunches. You may practice something without much success for a while, then one day, it just all come together. The learning process is more like a staircase than a ramp. We advance level by level rather than bit by bit. So rest assured that if you practice properly, you'll see progress measure by measure instead of note by note and they should be noticeable with each effective practice session.

PRACTICE WITH ACCOMPANIMENT REGULARLY
For most instruments, practicing with good accompaniment regularly is essential. Proper accompaniment helps us develop musicality, intonation accuracy, rhythmic precision and many other desirable qualities. Many music teachers take the time to provide accompaniment for their students in the forms of recording and/or midi files.  Recordings such as tape, CD, mp3, wave and other computer media files are excellent for musicality. Midi files, on the other hand, allows the student to adjust tempo (and key) to suit their level of ability and the option of hearing or muting their part during practice. With the right computer software, a student can also edit the instrumentation to create different sound combinations. Computer technology has dramatically enhanced the learning process for both students and teachers.

RECORD YOURSELF OFTEN
Music is about sound. Unfortunately, when we are playing an instrument, we don't hear quite the same thing our audience hears.  Ever hear your own voice in a recording and discover how differently you sound? Some people even blame the difference on a cheap recorder. The fact is, our physical contact with the instrument amplifies the overtones (partials) in sounds uniquely. Others, not in physical contact with the instrument, do not have the same experience.

Additionally, our concentration while playing creates selective hearing which makes us less aware of other elements of lower priority. Upon playing back the recording, we'll hear many flaws (as well as good things) we were not aware of. Each recording help us see what improvements are needed as well as the good things we've accomplished. Recording help prioritize what we need to work on.

Understand musical structure & design
Form, theory and other compositional elements are used by composers to realize their musical ideas. By seeing how they use devices and concepts successfully will advance your own musical development and knowledge. Often, these are the best examples of music principles in action. It would be a waste to pass up any opportunity to recognize these insights.

Knowing the structure of the composition will make it easier to memorize a piece as well. It'll make sense of the composer's intent, scheme and reason for the result. This understanding will help you organize your thoughts during memorization.  When a composition makes sense, you'll enjoy playing it more and the flow of the piece will feel more natural making it easier to remember.

To capture the brilliance of a good composition, it helps to recognize the specific elements that make it successful. Some of the common elements are beautiful melody, nifty rhythm, virtuosity, intriguing harmony, mesmerizing tones, emotional appeal, etc. Vocal music features text that can tell stories and paint virtual pictures while orchestral music features greater opportunities for sonority, texture and dynamic. Recognizing the key elements of each composition facilitate musical interpretation allowing the brilliance of the piece to shine through.

Perform often
Playing music well under pressure is result of good practice. Mistakes are caused by poor preparation, memory lapse, poor concentration, bad habits and insufficient skill. If these issues are adequately dealt with in practice sessions, they will no longer be a part of you. Musicians who apply the principles discussed above diligently in practice can attest to the success of of their application.

Finally, as human, we have individual shortcoming and strength that can effect our emotional state and physical condition during a performance. Only through frequent performing can we learn to deal with our personal issues. Many performers establish routines and regiments to help them manage their ability to perform well. Specifically, these include food diet, physical exercise activity, sleeping habit, warm up routine, yoga, pre-concert routine, yes--even the use of good-luck charm. Over time, we come to discover what works best and are most important. By performing often, we learn how to properly prepare for success consistently.

Success is not proportionate to efforts. It is, however, more quickly attained by good efforts.

Best of luck on your musical journey.
Above all, let the joy of music within you resonate freely around you.
 

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