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1. Break a large piece of music into smaller chunks
Learning a new piece of music can be overwhelming. Try breaking it into smaller, more manageable sections to learn. A good way to do this is to consider a measure at a time. -
2. Isolate difficult areas
There may be sections that are more difficult than others. Identify these sections and start with them. -
3. Use a slow tempo
Slow and steady wins the race. Try practicing these difficult sections slowly so that you can make the most out of your time. It does not help when you continue to play the song at a fast tempo and make the same mistakes. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_c9Zayl6pJlEuqUdE1VHmUdFgYJAszOk/view?usp=sharing] -
4. Say the rhythm using syllables
Make sure that you know the rhythm of the song. Use the syllables of "ta" and "ti-ti" to make sure you understand the structure of the song. This will provide you with a good starting point. https://drive.google.com/file/d/16e3rJhuGmnjeW8bllL7iCfWWMNpvxfAP/view?usp=sharing -
5. Play the rhythms using one note
Now that you understand the rhythms, try playing them on a single note. This will help you to understand the articulations of the song, specifically in terms of tonguing and sticking. -
6. Read the note names
Figure out the notes for the song. If you are having difficulty, write in the names of the challenging notes. It won't sound like the song without the correct notes. Bonus Points for reading through the note names aloud and in rhythm :-) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jH4vWeMwe2pJAL5oo7JRBz_-ZQm7JUQh/view?usp=sharing -
7. Finger or slide to the notes on your instrument
Practice moving your fingers or slide in order to the notes that you will need. Again, do this at a slow tempo so that you can build your muscle memory. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kme7fOfJXWTMxUI-9185goyr113JIX62/view?usp=sharing -
8. Play the music
Once you have done all of the steps above, play through those difficult sections. When you can play through the difficult sections without any mistakes, try to play through larger sections. Keep adding sections together until you can play through the entire song. Finally, once you have it all learned, you can speed it up! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CU6sT6Qy19OMROYRvr1vp-EEuWpEJEFz/view?usp=sharing -
9. Repeat these steps as necessary or try extra ones
If you are still having difficulty with playing through sections of the song, break it down again. Try working at the slow tempo and revisiting sections that are problematic. If that does not help, try these extra steps: Clap the rhythm, sing or hum the notes, count the rhythm using the number system, or air finger your part
