Music Practice Suggestions

Cleaning up the desk and found some notes from Lark Camp 2008? Thanks to Mark Bell for these thoughts about practicing. He is talking about practicing the doumbek but it applies to just about any mind/body activity that requires learning.

• in front of a mirror
• relax
• when you get tense stop and do something else
• repeat the same stroke continuously; e.g. fill a measure with the stoke and play 40 measures
• clear sound with tone (volume is least important)
• let gravity do the work
• minimal effort, be lazy

Go for sound clarity, quality and tone (with out volume). People will be able to hear what you are playing. People will want to listen to you (not tell you to go away.) People will ask you to play with them.