A lot of people have written saying that they struggle with playing in tune. Do you also struggle with this?
I wrote an article called Repeat A Thousand Times. The hero of this story is Earl Scruggs, titan of the bluegrass banjo. He wrote an instructional book on how to play the banjo in which he would give an exercise and then say “Repeat A Thousand Times”. When I first heard that I thought it was a just an exaggerated way of saying, “Practice one thing a lot.” I took it almost as a joke. But I recognized what a valuable and simple piece of advice it is.
Of the many things you need to keep track of as a music student, the two most important things might be:
- Play every day.
- Repeat a thousand times.
I’m writing this from India, where I’m learning a little about Indian classical musicians. I spent some time in Bombay with a family of musicians, and Salmat Khan, a sitar player, said that each day he plays a single scale 500 times, sometimes a thousand times if he thinks he needs it. The word for this kind of practice in hindi is riyaaz, and musicians like Salman do it for at least two hours a day. Keep in mind, this guy is already a master.
I know that a lot of people who learn music do it for enjoyment, and are not interested in being professionals or masters. For this reason, I would never ask my students to practice this much. I know that most of my students (in-person and online) are extremely busy with work, family, friends, school, chores, health practices, etc. So I try to get them going on music by making it fun enough so that will want to make music practice a daily habit.
But if you get to a point where you are frustrated by your tone or your ability, there’s a magical act you can do: Repeat a thousand times. It’s a magical act because it’s not magic at all, but something you can actually do if you take the time.
I asked Salmat Khan, “Do you do it the same exact way every time?” I had to ask a few times before I got an answer, which was that you practice the scale and add variations as you go. Some forms of variation that you can add to a scale:
- Speed
- Start at a comfortable medium tempo.
- Slow it down (the jedi mind trick that enables you to play faster).
- Then speed it up to your maximum tempo.
- Volume
- Practice at medium, quiet and loud volumes.
- Singing
- Practice singing, humming or whistling the scale.
- Alternate between singing and playing.
- Rhythmic variation
- Melodic variation
I have a module of lessons on How To Make Scales Fun. It’s mainly composed of lessons that show you different ways to add variation to scales. Variations allow your body (fingers, hands, arms, ears) to learn what they need to learn. They help to create mental models which acts to keep your brain in the game.
Another way to make scales fun and interesting is to see the connection between the scale and the music you play, something that Indian musicians do when they practice. After they’ve played a scale for 1-2 hours (!), they play a raga and a composition that uses the same scale.
Similarly, you can play the scale for whatever tune you are working on before you practice the tune. I would also encourage you to take breaks form the new tune and return to the scale. This is a nice way of shifting gears and taking a break from something challenging. But it’s also way to see the value of scales and make them more interesting, because you’ll start to hear the scale in the tune.
Even if you are a beginner, practice like a master!
Yes! I just feel bad that my husband has to hear the same phrases over and over! Such inspirational advice though because sometimes I think others make it look so easy😀
Lin, yes my intonation became very good when I had a very picky teacher. Playing with others helps greatly if you are listening AND they play in tune too.
I learned that the violin has many G#s some a tad higher and some a tad lower depending on the mood of the piece and if playing with others.
Note: playing something imprecisely 1000 times but with good tone and bowing technique still creates positive results.
good advice as always Jason
but also one must beware of making the same mistake every time unto the 1000th you practice (you dont see the wood for the trees if you judge yourself). I thought I had mastered “Coleraine” and was feeling pretty chuffed with myself for getting it. But then, when playing in a little jam session with friends, I noticed one of them looking at me quizzically, and I thought “I bet he will say how good I am getting” , but when he spoke he actually said “you know you should be playing G#, not G in that B part” !!!!!!
I was most upset, until I realised he was actually right, and I went home and have worked on better intonation in more of my tunes, so I am grateful for that reminder of continually checking oneself critically, and repeat the same mistake every time.
Pride cometh before a fall they say 🙂
Thank you for this reminder, Jason. I’m a yoga instructor, and it is often said that “With practice, all is coming.” (That’s a quote from K Pattabhi Jois, a well-known yogi.) And so it is with everything. I like to think that every bow stroke I take has moved me one more bow stroke forward.
Thank you for this inspiration.
I appreciate your fiddle instruction, but also the flow into general life encouragement.
I’m feeling even better about deciding to pick up and learn to fiddle…..all the good stuff!!!
Enjoy India! I’m sure a blast!