the Art Technique of Practice by Richard Provost

Technique isn't plenty on its ain – emotion has to come through – but when you've got the technique sewn up, that's i thing you don't take to worry nearly. ~ Zoe Benbow, visual artist

Without Unceasing Practice nothing tin be done.  Practice is Art.  If you get out off yous are lost. ~William Blake (1757 – 1827) from The Poetical Works of William Blake

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Want to learn more almost the all-time ways to practice? Go an e-post with a discount code when The Practice of Practice is published (June, 2014). To learn more about the book, check out a sample fromThe Do of Practice.

The Art and Technique of Practice, Richard Provost (1992): 56 pages

Provost's take on practice is simple and easily digested. Lots of white space on the 56 pages, and that'southward a adept affair, peculiarly if you're starting out. The book is an excellent primer for those new to do and contains a wealth of basic information. The book'south got 6 chapters:

1. Full general Guidelines: Goals, Productivity Techniques, Scheduling, Practise (7 pages)
2. Training & Technique (2 pages)
3. Memorization & Visualization (9 pages)
4. Note-Reading and Interpretive Exercise (three pages)
5. Probelm-Solving & Repertoire Maintenance (3 pages)
6. Developing Reading and Listening Skills (vii pages)
7. Appendices: Practice Schedules, Do Outline, Bibliography, About the Writer (viii pages)

In full general, because Provost is a classical guitarist, this is where his practice approach is coming from. Nada wrong with that, of course, considering there are basic skills like planning, goal-setting, assessment, and maintenance that are part of whatever practise, whether it's music (say, hang pulsate), or curling, or chess. A very tiny scrap of the material is specific to the guitar (or other string instruments) in that it talks of paw positions. Otherwise all the information is perfectly adaptable to any instrument or voice. Or crimper. 🙂

Peculiarly useful are the bibliography (tho it's a niggling outdated since the volume came out xviii years ago), and the Practice Outline in the book's Appendix. The practise outline is a slap-up affair to stick in your case or on the wall of your practice room to remind y'all of all the great information in the book. In fact, I think I'll tear my pages out right now and do just that so I think well-nigh these things while I etch my own have on these ideas.

At a niggling over $11, this is a neat and inexpensive way to go a little jolt of solid practise tips under your belt, or requite that jolt to a musician you know who could use the structure. For people who have been playing and practicing for a while, all the same, well-nigh of this information will not be all that revelatory, though I was glad to be reminded of all this information when I read it. In fact, after reading information technology once more, I've resolved to make goal-setting more explicit and frequent in my own practice. Information technology's a neat little book. Get one.

If yous're further along in your practise expertise and need something with more substance, consider checking out the next volume I'll review. Information technology's an excellent new title by Gerald Klickstein (another classical guitarist), called The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practise, Functioning, and Wellness. It'due south a much more comprehensive volume, though still focused on Western classical music. Stay tuned.

Take fun and good luck with your practice.

Desire to learn more well-nigh the best ways to exercise? Get an e-mail with a discount code when The Practice of Practice is published (June, 2014). To larn more virtually the book, bank check out a sample fromThe Do of Practice.

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Source: https://thepracticeofpractice.com/2010/03/10/book-review-the-art-and-technique-of-practice-by-richard-provost/

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