I’m on week two in learning the last song of Suzuki Book One’s violin method. Although I’m excited in practicing this piece, it is so far, the most challenging. Which is not surprising. After a week of struggling through the song, I have determined that I need to make a step by step plan for learning this piece. It is the following:
Step 1: Play through the song slowly everyday to get familiar with the song’s note transitions, string crossings, and slurs.
This step was completed the first week, I just found it hard to adapt. Usually after the first week of slowly playing through a new song, I get the hang of it. Not this time.
Step 2: Determined which parts of the song are the most difficult to play.
I grabbed my highlighter and determined that there were a total of 4 spots that were much more difficult than others in the entire song. My number one trouble spot is the 4th bar of the second part of the song. Sixteenth notes don’t come naturally to me.
Step 3: Start practicing trouble spots at a slow speed in order to refine finger motion, intonation, slurs and steadiness. Gradually increase your speed as you become more and more comfortable playing your trouble spots.
Currently I’m on this step. I’ve attained a steady and decent hand for my trouble spots at 50 bpm – which is very slow. Last night, I managed to speed up my #1 trouble spot to a whopping 58 bpm speed. After repeating all my trouble spots over and over again, I try to connect them to the rest of the notes on the same line. If I play it good enough, then I play through the whole song at the same speed (50 bpm). Guess what? It’s actually working! I feel some progress, yey!
NOTE – Keep in mind that this entire process doesn’t all happen in one practice session. It could take a few days.
Step 4: When the initial trouble spots have been worked out, play through the entire song. If you have other trouble spots (different from your initial ones), then repeat Step 3.
Step 5: When all trouble spots have been addressed and refined as much as possible, then start performing the song at a moderate speed (the speed that you can handle). Gradually increase the speed every 2 to 3 days by 10 BPM and see how you do. Repeat this until you feel comfortable with the speed you choose to play it at.
IMPORTANT NOTE: At first, you shouldn’t aim to play the song you’re learning at full speed. That will come with time. Learn the song at a moderate speed (not too slow, not too fast). I tend to get burnt out on a song if I practice it over and over again for too long. For this song in particular, I’ll give myself 3 more weeks. By the time I have found my speed and play it as best as I can, I will move on. Then, a few weeks later – when I’m ready to record this song for my progress videos – I will practice it again and work my way up to full speed (if possible).
Overall, I predict that I will finally finish up Book 1 at exactly 1 year and 6 months. It probably took longer than the average learner, but that’s ok – I’m enjoying the ride.
