One of the things I've introduced into my regular practice routine is working with my metronome. I've had a metronome almost from the time I started playing the flute (my parents gave me my first one as a Christmas present), but until a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't using it as regular part of my daily practice.
The idea came from this post on Zara Lawler's The Practice Notebook. She recommends choosing a small section to work on, which I started out doing. However, it didn't take long for me to realize that Taffanel-Gaubert #4 is a "problem section" in its entirety. So I tried practicing with the metronome the entire two page section I was working on that week. It has made a big difference. It helps me pinpoint those sections I need to focus more attention on, and it keeps me "on task."
I also tend to play all the way through my week's Frederick the Great Daily Exercise with the metronome, primarily because they're short. It really is amazing how many places I speed up along with trouble spots where I slow down.
Of course, I do use Metronome Trick No. 1 as recommended to work on trouble spots.
And the improved playing is not confined to the pieces I work on with the metronome. I've found that when start a new Daily Exercise at the beginning of the week, I can sight read it at a faster tempo than I could the one the week before. The dance tunes I play for fun are easier to play at a danceable tempo.
Improved playing speed does mean that I'm fast approaching the time when I'm going to have to begin working again on another skill.
Double tonguing.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
what is the metronome for life? if we could use that as a 'practice' tempo, we might find that we live life more meaningfully.
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