Practice is not forced labor; it is a refined art that partakes of intuition, of inspiration, patience, elegance, clarity, balance, and above all, the search for ever greater joy in movement and expressions.
- Yehudi Menuhin, violinist
I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert on practicing. Any advice you get here is strictly from my own experience. I like to practice steel drums because it gives me the confidence to play in rehearsals and performances. It is different for everyone. Your goals might be different if you are rehearsing one song for Panorama vs. practicing twelve for an upcoming two hour performance. Here are a couple of suggestions:
1) Get a Plan and Stick to It - Know what to work on before starting. Is it Scales? Memorization? Troublesome song parts? New material? Your solo? I work from a list usually split between new material, stuff I know and try to memorize, and songs I know cold. Dedicating time to each works for me. I move on when time is up in each section.
2) How much and How Often - When I first started out with the tenor pan, I would get into a flow and could play for a couple hours easily. Now, I set aside a specific day and time to practice. This way, I stay in the good graces of others in the house and don't miss dinner. What works for you one hour per week or one hour per day? How are you playing when it comes time for rehearsal or a performance? This influences how much you should practice too.
Practice is so important. It makes a big difference in your confidence and competence as a musician.
Skip Waugh
Steel Pan Collective
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