Isolate pieces of technique

Something that I often have my students do is isolate small pieces of technique.

For example if you have trouble changing between two chords I recommend my students practice only that. No playing. No strumming. Just switching between the chords. It feels a little strange to do this, but I do it and have my students do it because it isolates that movement. I think of it kind of like exercising those tiny muscles in your hands. You need to remember the exact shape of these two chords and how your fingers need to move to switch between them. So practice just that tiny movement between those chords.

The same could be said for strumming on guitar. The same could also be said for scalar runs on piano or rhythms.

If a specific strumming pattern is difficult practice “strumming” on your thigh. Rather than dealing with chord changes and holding the guitar and playing a chord, practice just that exact strumming pattern.

If one scalar pattern is tricky practice just that scalar pattern. Practice the finger pattern on your leg or something without having to deal with the actual piano. Isolate it and practice it separately.

If a specific rhythm is difficult, clap or tap that rhythm. Don’t practice with an instrument. Just work on that specific rhythm. Clapping and tapping your foot can be a great way to practice it. Counting and clapping is another great way to practice.

But try to isolate small pieces of technique to practice them separately to improve that specific thing.

It can help improve it faster because you aren’t also working on something else.

If you’re practicing playing guitar and there’s one specific piece of a technique that’s difficult then isolate it.

ISJ