PIANO HOME REHEARSAL TIPS

For Songs & Technical Exercises

Your exam, competition or event songs should be a piece you ALREADY KNOW at an intermediary skill level but here is the step-by-step guide at different skill levels:

STEP 1: FOR A NEW SONG

FOCUSING ON NOTE ACCURACY to METRONOME / SLOWER TRACK

1.1.           Make sure you are COUNTING your bars and NOTE VALUES during this step.

1.2.           Once you have achieved note accuracy at your own EVEN tempo (speed), you may only then progress to playing your song with metronome / slower track at:

a.      Slow speed (10 to 50 BPM below target tempo)

b.     Medium speed (10 to 20 BPM below target tempo)

1.3.           Once you have achieved medium speed accuracy, add your “HOW” = DYNAMICS and ARTICULATION (things like loud, soft, accent, staccato, fermata and ritardando).

STEP 2: MEDIUM KNOWN SONG

USING METRONOME OR SOUNDTRACK (GUIDE MELODY)

Now you are adding to TEMPO, RHYTHM and muscle MEMORY while adding DYNAMICS and ARTICULATION.

2.1.    Once you have achieved accuracy at a comfortable medium speed, you may progress to TARGET TEMPO using your metronome or soundtrack. The target tempo is usually indicated at the top / bottom of your song sheet.

2.2.    While you are playing with your guide melody track (soundtrack), do the following:

a.      Listen carefully! Make sure your notes are lining up with the guide melody on your soundtrack – this is called “syncing” to achieve muscle memory.

b.     Isolate! Where you are not playing accurately, isolate that part of the music but make sure you are also playing the “run-up” before and after your weaker section.

c.      Make Notes! Make a pencilled note and date for practice so that you make a rehearsal end goal date for yourself.

d.     Polish and Memorise! Now with all these steps done, get the guide melody and tempo into your memory and create your muscle memory.

STEP 3: WELL KNOWN SONG

USING METRONOME /  BACKING TRACK

Now you are adding NOTE MEMORY, SONG STRUCTURE AND RHYTHM to note accuracy and tempo. You will also work on DYNAMICS and ARTICULATION.

1.1.           The backing track does not have a guide melody, unless you are the backing music structured as chords or accompaniment style for a lead vocalist or instrument.

1.2.           If you are making mistakes during this step or you have uncertainties at this level, REVERT BACK TO STEP 2 with metronome or guide track:

1.3.           Practice in this way with your backing track:

a.      LISTEN! Carefully at the beat / the tempo and SYNC

b.     You should have a very good idea of the STRUCTURE of the song – how many beats to fall in, where to start with verse 1, where to start with chorus, etc.

c.      If you’re still uncertain, keep your eye on the sheet music to keep track of WHERE you are in the song since you do not have the guide melody.

d.     ISOLATE the parts you are rhythmically slow or inaccurate working with your metronome at 10 to 30 BPM slower.

e.      If you still struggle with note accuracy, go back to STEP 1 AND 2.

1.4.           Polish and Memorise! Now with all these steps done, get the backing track structure and tempo into your memory and create a spectacular finished product! Remember to place enjoyment and joy into your processes. Make it personal and unique to your style.