Maroubra Music

THIS SYSTEM IS A PRACTICE JOURNAL METHOD

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These instructions are meant for older students, or for adults who can assist young students.

Young students typically don't engage with written instructions but once adults understand the concepts they can help.

If you're too busy to read this now, just find the most recent email, scan through for an overview of the lesson, and start clicking links!

 

The practice journal will contain either what we did in class, or related to what we did.

You can often start anywhere on any link, and most tutorials will have some basic instructions.

Each week the links will be the same as the previous week while we are working on a project, and until we add a new project, or revise an old one.

​​It is important for our overall memory recall to look back through material over time. and to track progress.​​​

BUILD A PRACTICE ROUTINE
One of the best music practice systems is a timed routine.

Households must create these themselves because it’s based on your schedule, but a rule of thumb is a 10 to 60 minute routine 3 to 6 times a week.

You need: A countdown timer. All phones have one. It can’t be the same device as the practice journal so often better to buy one from Jaycar for $20. 

You need: A document to create the routine. This is whatever you work best with - hand written, text on a computer, spreadsheet etc

 

Here is an example of a 15 Minute Practice Routine:

1)  5 min piano etudes or tunes or isometric finger work
2)  5 mins drum rudiments or bilateral coordination patterns
3)  5 mins pitch study or reading music

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MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO USE A PRACTICE JOURNAL

YOUNG STUDENTS WILL LEARN BY LISTENING

This system is very hearing based. The practice material is usually instructive within the material. For example, if a tune is sung in the numbers of the tune, the tune itelf instructs the musican which numbers to use. If you are hearing music or instructions from the tutorial videos you are memorising musical principles.

 

Even if unable to physically play yet, students still absorb scales, songs, patterns, and mathematical patterns simply by listening. Don't feel pressured to immediately play, no matter how complex something is, relax and listen. In most cases just watching or listening to the track will teach you the content, just like an audio book.

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WHAT IF THE EXERCISE IS TOO FAST

An exercise is often too fast to play but not to listen to. In class we call this 'Vox Mode' where we listen to, or say, or sing the pattern.

Musicians must listen to music at all speeds including super fast. Obviously taking care to not overwhelm sensitive kids.

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Students can make the mistake of thinking they are meant to play what they are watching, so they want to slow it down - which we do.

However, they must also listen to fast material, and their brain is fast enough to take in the information.

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Kids need assurance on this so they don't think they are meant to suddenly perform at high speed, so parents can help them by understanding the principle -’fast patterns prepare the musical brain for speed’. Kids don't have a problem watching a fast dancer or a fast car - music is the same.

If you listen to a fast musical passage several times, the exercise seems to slow down - what was a blur is now coherant.

 

This is a critical principle because otherwise students will avoid listening to fast passages. Most exercises do have slower and faster versions so if a tutorial is too fast, emplore the student to just watch and listen for a while before clicking a slower one.

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HOW DO I PLAY DRUM EXERCISES WITHOUT DRUMS?

All rhythm exercises in this course can be played with hands on lap: left lap / right lap (2 DRUMS) or on chest on left / middle / right (3 DRUMS) or using chop sticks on a box. I can also send you a free 'make your own drum' kit by request.

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SCREEN TIME DILEMMA? JUST LISTEN!

It's important to note that this training is primarily LISTENING.

Visuals highlight key information such as notes, sections, tempo, and hand placement, but the focus is SOUND.

You can glance at the screen then look at the instrument so you only use your ears. Your hearing is around ten times faster than your sight.

Some tutorials require watching but not the live play tutorials.

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UNDERSTANDING NUMBERS IN MUSIC:

It's essential to understand that numbers in music is not a simplified beginner learning approach like painting by numbers. At advanced levels of music theory we use interval and chord numbers through 'Roman Numeral Analysis,' so numeric notation is high study tier beyond conventional reading.

 

This numerical system represents the mathematical underpinnings of music. While foundational reading skills are presumed, intermediate to advanced musicians predominantly engage with numeric representations.

Moreover, in relative pitch training, students develop the ability to discern interval numbers by ear — a sophisticated cognitive skill. 
 

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