CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PRIZEWINNERS!
LISA LIPANI—a one-year subscription to Harp Column Magazine
CHARLES BRUNGARDT—a one-year membership to Harp Column Academy
BARBARA GREGORY—a $20 gift certificate to Harp Column Music
Today’s tool
Breaking down passages into manageable pieces
Assignment: Select one difficult passage, divide into very small sections, and master each section separately.
Take your most challenging passage and break it into very small chunks—even just a few beats each. Master each micro-section completely before linking it to the next one. For example, with an two-measure phrase, practice the first half of measure 1 until perfect, then the second half of the measure, then combine them. Then the same with measure 2. Finally, connect measures 1 and 2. This might feel tedious, but you’ll learn your piece a lot faster than repeatedly playing the whole passage incorrectly. The chunking method works because your brain can only hold so much new information at once; by feeding it tiny, digestible pieces, you’ll build a solid foundation rather than feeling like you “almost have it.”
Learn more:
A Potent Practice Plan, by Adam Hockman
Musicians are always looking for ways to maximize their progress while minimizing their practice time. Find out how a small but important shift in thinking can improve your practice plan in this Harp Column feature article by Adam Hockman.
Roll the Dice, with Jaymee Haefner
Harp Column Academy master teacher Jaymee Haefner shows how to break your music into small sections for more efficient practice.
Music ideas:
The Merry Brook, by Frances Miller
Based on upward and downward arpeggios, The Merry Brook, for lever or pedal harp, is another etude-like piece you can use for slow study or student performances alike.