MAKE PRACTICE FUN
Practice is something you should try for every day. Give it all
you can. If you have difficulty with any part, slow down,
practice slowly. Try introducing an interval of at least 1
second between each count until your playing accuracy has
improved. It isn't necessary for you to play any piece at the
correct speed right from the start. If you slow down a bit your
accuracy will improve and then you will find it easy to speed up.
Practice should not be a chore and a bore but an interesting
journey of discovery. You should have no trouble getting
motivated to practice because you should look forward to it as
an enjoyable experience. You should practice as often as you can
and practice slowly and carefully. You will be surprised at how
quickly you can progress with careful repetition. What at first
seems almost impossible suddenly becomes easy.
You see, playing music well happens when you cease making a
conscious effort. A concert pianist, for example, doesn't sit at
the keyboard and think; "Right! I will now depress the C key
with the 3rd finger of my left hand and at the same time depress
the E with the 1st finger and the G with the Thumb and at the
same time I must remember to play 5 keys with my right hand"
etc. etc. What happens is that he sits down, calmly and plays.
There is no conscious thought commanding the muscles of his hand
to move his fingers. He relies on MUSCLE MEMORY. This happens
when something is practiced so often that conscious thought is
no longer necessary. It is subconscious and the muscles react
automatically. If you find this hard to believe then I suggest
you suspend your disbelief until you have proven it to yourself
and prove it you will. It always surprises me that I can sit
down at the keyboard and attempt a piece I haven't played for a
year or so and find that my hands produce the tune
automatically. There is no thought as to what is the next note,
my fingers are there playing them. Hard to believe? Well any
accomplished musician will tell you the same thing.