The 3 P’s to improving your flute practice session:
We all wish we could push a magic button (insert sparkly music here) and suddenly know how to play the flute music we desire perfectly.
Well, we wish it happened this way, but I’m here today to tell you that it CAN happen more quickly than you think by following my 3 P’s of practicing.
It’s totally impossible to go somewhere if you don’t get on the path.
Here they are, listen up:
1. Plan
It’s totally impossible to go somewhere if you don’t get on the path to getting there.
We need to bring our flutes out with a “plan” of what we are going to improve.
I have already organized and broken up the lessons into sections for you. If you are above module #5 you’ll have progress sheets printed and filled out for each little skill I teach. All you have to do is apply these 3 P’s to each skill.
If there is no plan, you’ll probably play aimlessly and wonder if you’ve improved. Sometimes it’s fun to play aimlessly, but of course this can’t happen every time we pull out our instrument or we will never advance into the flutist we wish to be. So, get a PLAN before you start.
Now that we’ve “planned what to practice”, we come to the next P:
2. Patience
Aye, there’s the rub.
You have to keep at it even though it is near impossible to see the small increments of improvement. They are there, and with patience more results will come.
I once heard it said something like this: We often see another musician’s “glory” without realizing their whole “story”.
This story is actually probably filled with an amazing amount of patience an persistence. Which brings us to the next P:
3. Persistence
Ah ok. This one is easy to remember, harder to implement.
You can’t win the game if you don’t stay on the field, right?
You have a PLAN, you have PATIENCE, now you just have to stay the course.
Magic (insert same sparkly music here) happens and supernatural skills are acquired with you stick to exercising a skill for 100+ days in a row.
Hi! I am still here, in Colorado, though my flute-playing has had to take a backseat this summer. I like your 3 P’s and will strive to follow them. I’m working on “performing” (or playing) in front of family and friends. Or just in front of the “record” button on the computer. Yep, you go back 10 years in experience and turn into a klutz!! Hahaha. But with practice on that skill of performing, and on all the many many others, I hope to keep improving.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Margaret
Hi Margaret, you’re so awesome to continue working on this fun skill. The 3 P’s are incredible to follow. The ‘record’ button is so so so so effective. Especially if you’re planning on placing it in front of some other flute learners – they’re like cheerleaders of the best kind. Come join us. Have a great week improving. 🙂 ~Rebecca
I like the 3 p will try to practice that lately some days i dont get to do it because i am so tired from work which we as adults spend of great deal of time on the job with limited time to pratice my best times r weekends i am not excusing it but in the future i need to pratice more hoping someday to get better thnx 4 listening
You’re definitely on the right track, Rose. Keep it up! ~Rebecca
For many years I’ve had patience and persistence, but not much of a PLAN. Thanks for your advice Rebecca, I’ll be working on A PLAN next time I pull my flute out to practice.
Perfect, Molefi! I’m glad you are making a ‘plan’. I’ll show you exactly what to do daily in the lesson modules. See you soon! Rebecca
hi mrs fuller
the 3 p’s are things i was doing and not knowing that i was it is so good that you bring it up know am gonna make sure that i do them
I’m glad you read this Rufus. You’re doing so well. 🙂 Rebecca
Such a good article. Simple yet so true. You said in three words what most
have eventually wound up doing, but the now we can use the three P’s as the template for our practices. Well done. And thanks.
Glad you like this. There are always times we can improve our efficiency in practicing. 😛
Had the joy of playing to my 18m grandson Ben and he laughed and danced. Thanks for your encouragement! Jane
Oh what a joy!
it is so correct. I totally agree with you on the fact that if you don’t plan you just can’t see the improvement.
it is so rewarding when you look back, or play again that piece that you practice for a while, and finally it seems so easy to play!
I have enjoyed your lessons immensely. thanks you.
wishing you happy holidays.
Oliver.