In a Practise Rut? · Learning Jazz Violin

In a Practise Rut?

The main issue developing jazz musicians face at some point is practice paralysis.

We keep taking in new information with excitement and wonder at the start. The more exciting it is, the more information we seek, until we have a brain filled with scattered ideas to work on.

Maybe we spend a week looking at one new aspect of playing (let's say it's enclosures) then we remember something else from a video we saw a while back and we jump over to that. The more ideas we consume, the more we yo-yo around, until every time we go to practise we are jumping from topic to topic every ten minutes. Coming away feeling lost and a bit stressed out.

I've been there, and I would be lying to say it doesn't still happen to me too.

Here's my way around it.

If I'm ever feeling like I don't know what to work on, I listen to some records until I find myself excited about a solo I hear, and I start to learn it by ear. I have a bunch of different steps I take once I've learned the solo to try and use the material. It's my go-to thing to help me get out of that cyclical confused practice state. It's fun (if I pick the right solo), it's a medium term goal (because it takes me a few weeks to get it learned usually), and it's basically the tried and tested method that jazz musicians have always taken to learn the music. That's indisputable.

Thing is, most violinists don't have the tools that I do to actually use this material. That's what my community is there for. Here's how I help.

1. Practice Club. Each month I take an etude, break it down, teach it step by step and take you through pathways to getting the material into your psyche. It's like having me show up to your practice session to guide you through something that will actually push your playing. All participants are on mute and follow my playing as a guide through the material. It runs Monday nights at 6pm UK, and I post the recording, exercises and etudes each week for anyone who can't make it. It comes with VIP membership.

You're welcome to message me here or comment on this post for a free try of a session.

2. Coaching. I work with the most dedicated students in the community 1-1. We meet once a month, I give real feedback on your playing, and we create a practice plan that works on what you want to push in your playing.

Message me here or book a call to find out more.

Happy practising.

Matt

0 comments

In a Practise Rut?