PRACTICE TIPS #21: Fractures

[Brent Hugh <bhugh@GRIFFON.MWSC.EDU>]

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Fractures

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This weeks tip is from Practice Tips reader Gary T.  Gary has been doing a 

lot of reading and experimenting with different practice techniques, and 

suggests "fractures" as one of most useful techniques he has discovered:



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PRACTICING FRACTURES



No, this message isn't about breaking a leg. We will leave that one for 

skiers and skydivers.



It is about a practice technique from "Playing the Piano for Pleasure" by 

Charles Cooke. I like him, because, like myself he retired from the Air 

Force. He was an amateur player, which is all I'll ever be, but he did 

write down some good techniques. The book was written in 1941.



There are lots of techniques, but the one I like the most was practicing 

fractures. You know, the part of the piece that we keep putting off because 

it is the most difficult.



Like in life, doing the most difficult things first is usually beneficial. 

His point is that those parts of the piece we find especially difficult 

contain all the technique necessary to play the rest of the piece. If we 

learn those first, the rest will come easier.



I tried this on Chopin's Nocturne in C# minor (Posthumous). Once I learned 

the difficult part on the first page, the rest of the piece came quickly.



Ok, so what's the point? This is for teachers. As a student, I have found 

it is best to concentrate only on one phrase at a time without worrying 

what comes before or after. It is only when I'm comfortable with hitting 

the right keys that I put it together.



I also find I'm attracted by the rest of the piece while studying the hard 

part. So what to do as a teacher???



What if you made a copy of the piece and only gave the student a difficult 

phrase each week? Tell the student you want it learned as well as possible. 

Spend maybe 15 or 20 min a day only on that phrase. (You might put in 

suggested fingering.)  So what if it takes 6 weeks to learn a piece this 

way??? Will it take any less time with all the music?



It is best (according to Cooke) to practice first one hand until you can do 

it automatically, then add the second. I found this works real well.



As with all techniques, you will experience varying degrees of acceptance 

and success. But it's worth a try. Let us know what you find.



Gary T.



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Happy Practicing!



--Brent





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PRACTICE TIPS is by pianist, teacher, composer, and internet nerd

Brent Hugh.  Brent knows about practicing mostly because he *does*

it, and in fact is toddling off to do some of it just about now . . .



Please remember that this tip is but the tip of the elephant's left

rear toe--it's not even close to the whole elephant that is

"how everyone in the whole world should practice the piano".



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