As both a student and a teacher of classical guitar, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect upon the ‘best’ way to practice the instrument. As both a performer and a teacher of amateurs, I find myself in a bit of a bind.
Professional practice can be laborious and monotonous. You could even describe it as a form of cruel and unusual torture.
So how should a classical guitar novice practice? Here’s some tips to get you started.
Master the previous lesson’s materials
A good classical guitar teacher plans his/her lessons carefully. A good teacher is familiar with the kind of skills the student will need to develop at that particular point in time.
Therefore, the student should always strive to master the previous lesson’s material before the next lesson. That should be the student’s top priority.
Practice material you love
Don’t be afraid to take a break from the previous lesson’s materials to practice pieces you love. The previous lesson’s materials should take top priority, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work on other pieces.
It’s always more enjoyable to practice something you love. Playing a piece you enjoy is a great way to remind yourself why you started learning the instrument in the first place.
Refer to previous material only when necessary
Take a forward-looking approach when you practice. Try to avoid digging up excessively old material if there isn’t a good reason to do so, especially if you are a beginner.
As a rule of thumb, you should only revisit ‘old’ material if you want to memorize the piece, or if you enjoy it. It is also acceptable to revisit that material if you feel you can benefit from it technically.
But don’t linger on material that is of no technical benefit to you. Playing the classical guitar is like learning to walk. As infants, we learn how to roll on our tummies before we learn how to sit up. Then we learn how to crawl before we learn how to stand and so forth.
The moment we learn how to walk, we should stop crawling. It is ridiculous for a parent to demand a child practice crawling in order to walk more efficiently. To walk more efficiently, we should practice walking, not crawling.
It sounds simple when this analogy is used, but when applied to the learning of classical guitar, this situation becomes more difficult to identify. In short, don’t linger on material that is of no technical benefit to you. Doing so isn’t a display of thoroughness; it’s a display of wastefulness. That time could be better spent on material that could genuinely propel your technical abilities forward.
Consistency
Be consistent in how often you practice. Remember, the teacher is only there to help you teach yourself. You will make little progress if you never practice and rely entirely on your sessions with your teacher.
Aim to practice every day for at least 30 minutes.
Follow these tips and your abilities are bound to improve!
Looking for a classical guitar teacher? Click here!
Read more Classical Guitar Articles
