Roberto Capocchi, guitarist: Blog

This is a wonderful framework that works for me, and that I've learned to teach - and then coach - my students.  In a nutshell, here's what I do, in small "bites:"

1) Study the score

2) Read it on the guitar

3) Run through it in my head

4) Drill it a little, playing from memory

5) Incorporate the new bit

Then, I move on to the next bit.

Try it!

This is not a comprehensive practice method.  It just gets new music into your head, so you can do all sorts of other practice methods more freely. 

The steps can be fluid - often, I'll alternate studying the score and reading on the guitar to make fingering decisions.  Or alternate reading on the guitar with visualizing to create a stronger, clearer mental picture.  Alternating visualization and playing from memory allows me to study my fingers in detail, and compare what I see with the "ideal" technique in my head.  At this point, I avoid drilling too much.

Make the process you own:

1) How big are the bites?  Smaller bites are good for detail, larger ones give you more context. 

2) What does studying the score mean to you? Count the rhythm? Tap it? Jot down fingerings and technical markings such as guide fingers and pivots? You can recognize chords and clarify voicings. 

3) When reading on the guitar, take your time.  Use "no tempo" - slow and relaxed, then gradually add the rhythm.  LISTEN.  Often fingerings that looked good on paper don't work, or better ideas come up.  Don't drill too much at this point, so that your auto-pilot isn't confused if you change anything. Read to give yourself a model you can imagine in the next step.

4) What does visualization mean to you?  Can you picture the left hand movements? What about the right hand movements?  Can you imagine the sensation of a guide finger sliding on the string?  Can you hear things clearly in your head?  Do you like picturing the score?  Start with one of these and gradually develop your imagining apparatus.

5) When drilling, you can focus on "doing the right thing," then on "doing the right thing well," then bringing it up to speed or adding musical details - what notes over-ring? What notes do you bring out? When do you damp basses?  You can focus on just getting the right notes with the right fingers, then make sure you use the techniques you decided to, then make sure everything is clean, work on getting a beautiful sound.  This takes rote and boredom out of repetition, keeps you focused, and allows you to conquer small steps at as time.

6) Music needs context.  Add the bit you just leaned to the parts you already worked on and LISTEN again.  If you were playing each little bit from memory, don't expect to play bigger sections without reading right away.  Don't drill too much - move on to the next little bit.  You'll review what you just learned in a few minutes, when you're incorporating another section.

If you ever think you're progressing too slowly, do the math.  If you learn one measure at a time, and cover a line a day, you'll learn more music in a year than most people do.  And you'll learn it well.