Technique: Your Secret Weapon

Ever have that friend who improves faster than you and you can’t figure out why? You know you’re both practicing the same amount of time every day. You’re working on a similar level of music in your ensemble. How is this possible?

Your friend has a secret – she is using a technique book during practice. Sometimes they’re called studies, sometimes they’re called journalliers. Whatever you want to call them, they work like magic.

The Purpose of Technique

Technique takes the hard parts from most music and pulls them apart into easy exercises. The goal of technique is usually speed. How fast can you play this simple, little, nonsensical exercise?

Because you have pulled that tough portion apart and worked on it piece-by-piece, when you find it in music, you just breeze through it like it’s nothing.

When to Start on Technique

I usually don’t start my students on technique until I think they’re ready. For piano, that means they need to be reading the notes on the staff because I prefer the technique books that don’t go with the lesson books.

For flute, there are technique studies in the lesson books, so I start kids on separate technique books when they’re out of the lesson books. If you want to see my picks, check out my favorite repertoire page here for flute and here for piano. The piano page will be coming next week.

How Do I Start on Technique?

First contact your teacher. See if your teacher has a master plan for you, or has a preference on technique books. I will be posting my lists of favorites soon.

How Does Technique Fit into Practice?

In the order of your practice, technique should be played after scales and before etudes. It should be part of your warm-up, because scales don’t always completely warm up your muscles. It also helps you play your etudes and repertoire better.

When I started using technique, it was a difference of night and day. My musicianship exploded. I hope this helps you out.

How about you? Has technique affected your playing?

Author: Tarah

I started playing flute in 1988 and piano in 1991. In 1996, my high school chose me to teach flute and piano to a partner grade school. I was chosen for a similar program in college. Tarah Schoell has always loved sharing her music and guiding others to learn new things. Because of this, she went to college to be a music teacher and has a B.S. in Elementary Education with a Concentrate in Music from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. Tarah uses her music education degree to teach from her flute and piano studio, play in various professional and community ensembles, and run a blog on practice techniques at thequarternotes.com. She is active in the Omaha Music Teacher’s Association because she likes to support her fellow music teachers and use the monthly continuing education opportunities.

23 thoughts on “Technique: Your Secret Weapon”

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    1. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I will be posting this information on Thursday. What with teaching more than one instrument, it takes quite awhile to make the list and create the links, etc. 🙂

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  21. 100% spot on!! My skill improved by leaps and bounds when I really started dedicating myself to daily scales and technique work and not just hammering pieces for upcoming performances!

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