How to Prepare for a Music Performance

Graham Fitch gives a lesson on how to practise and prepare for a musical performance. I love Fitch’s lessons via Pianist Magazine on YouTube and very relevant to guitar practice. I watch his lessons all the time because thinking in terms of music and not necessarily guitar can be very beneficial. Don’t worry if you can’t follow all of the theory or terminology, just soak in the general ideas and think in terms of your level and current knowledge-base. The above video is part one and I’ll update this post as they release more.

Some Tips from Part 1

• Research before physically playing.
• Listening to multiple quality performances both critically and comparatively. Making a list of noticeable musical qualities.
• Build a strong foundation. Avoid the repeated read-through method.
• Delay the gratification and focus on the satisfaction that comes from the process of learning rather than the end product.
• M.I.C.E. – Practicing in a Mindful, Imaginative, Creative, and Enjoyable way.
• Research the piece. Read programme notes, writings, etc. Any kind of insight into the piece. Not fixating on the mechanics but rather on the message of the piece.
• Not letting muscle memory set in before you understand the musical interests.
• Analysis – What’s under the skin of the music?
  • Macro forms and structure and micro analysis harmonic and melodic elements.
  • Enjoy recognizing the features of the piece
  • What are the interesting aspects of the work
• Tracking – Divide the piece into chunks and mark the sections into your score. Assign specific activities for the various ‘tracks’. Maybe it’s slow practice, rhythmic work, controlled stops.
• Mental Practice – Looking at the score and imagining the music and yourself playing.

Part 2 – Deep Learning Techniques: Coming soon.