How do I practice?

Practice can and should be fun when you follow a strict method. Here is the method I use. Pitch/tone production Take a measure or a short phrase and play the notes out of time with a tuner. Play the first note and check the tuning, then the next and next. Get the pitches in your ear to the point you can sing them before you move to the next step. Rhythm Count out loud the rhythms. 1 2 & 3 4 e and uh 1. Do this several times before playing it on the instrument. Concentrate on one element at a time. Break the rhythms down from beat to beat overlapping each segment once they start playing it in the following manner: play 1 e and uh 2 again 1 e and uh 2 again 1 e and uh 2 next beat 2 e and uh 3 again 2 e and uh 3 again 2 e and uh 3 now 1 e and uh 2 e and uh 3 Play a game: “Don’t let yourself move to the next segment before you can play it three times in a row perfectly”. If you get completely stumped it is usually due to mental fatigue. Just like bench pressing you will get tired to the point you can’t lift any more. Much is like the brain, take a few minutes thinking about something totally different and then come back to it. Don’t let your youself get confused between mental fatigue and laziness. Laziness is when you play it for 2 minutes and take a 10 minute break. Fatigue is when you play it for 10 minutes solid and take a 2 minute break. Articulations Sing the notes and rhythms using the correct articulations. Over emphasize the rhythms in your singing. Play the articulations and rhythms using only the first note of the phrase and then go back and move the notes. Dynamics Finally we pay close attention to cresc. and other dynamic elements. Usually by this time you can play the passage technically well so you can focus on the final element.