Devonshire Music
William
This Website Currently Runs on Donations.
Please Consider Donating.
Thank You! :)
Practice
What Should Your Practice Look Like?
Practice routines can look like anything, but here are some ideas of what I do, and have done, and have seen other people do.
The Ultimate
I don't do it as much anymore, but there was a time when I would designate a certain amount of time to each area of music everyday, for the most well rounded practice routine.
Here's a list of all the things you could practice if you added everything, and had the most well rounded practice routine:
Unrehearsed Reading Pieces:
This is when you practice playing songs you've never seen before, or have played only a few times.
This is done in order to get better at being able to pick up ANY piece, and play the song well on first, or first few reads.
One of my favourites:
For my own practice recently, I've tended towards basically just doing this.
The reason why is because:
- I love the variety it gives me, because I could essentially read any piece I feel like playing that day. A variety of any difficulty, and any composer. Some days I want to play easy Romantic Era pieces, and some days I want to play difficult Baroque, etc etc.
- and secondly,
Enhances variety of choice:
I love the ability to pick up a new piece I have never seen before, and actually being able to immediately play it fairly well just by reading it, because when you can do that you are open to play a large variety of songs.
Builds dexterity:
Some pieces are technically difficult, and as you play through the piece slowly, you will be building your dexterity ability
Inevitably builds your repertoire:
As you play various songs, you will inevitably get better and better at them each play through, and so eventually you will master the piece, and now you've got it as one of your mastered pieces which you can play at shows etc.
Builds library:
You can begin to collect books here and there, and eventually you will have a library of pieces to play from. You can also find pieces on online libraries like MuseScore.
Literally all you do is have some books that you enjoy playing from that have a mix of pieces you are good at, and some you've never seen before, and ones inbetween, and you just try to read through them.
It builds ability to play impromptu:
Imagine all the benefits that come from being able to just pick up a piece of music and play it, like you do with everyday text based language.
This inevitably leads us to our next one, Repertoire, because as you read through various pieces impromptu, you start to like this piece or that piece, and so you naturally play them more, and the more you play it, the more you master it, and next thing you know, it's one of your main pieces, and you've added it to your Repertoire.
Repertoire:
This is when you play pieces from a book to master and memorize the piece and add it to your collection of mastered pieces (aka your repertoire).
I used to do this moreso when I had to master pieces for shows, recitals, or examinations.
It's nice because it allows you to really master pieces, and it's a good feeling when you've really mastered a piece.
The problem might be that you play the same piece over and over, so it can be a bit repetitive, and this is why some people have difficulty continuing doing it.
It's always good to have a balance and thats why when I did focus on mastering a piece I would balanbce it with other things (as shown below), like just cold reading random pieces for variety, or playing around with Improvisation.
Theory:
Theory is just when someone notices an interesting pattern with music, and they give it a name and talk about the ways they can use it, or the ways it's used.
This can be very empowering, because through the numerous years of humanity making sense of the patterns in music, you can learn them and have a whole new tool for your tool belt.
I think of learning Theory like going to a tool shop, and getting a new tool. Once you learn how to use the new tool, there's all sorts of uses you can have for it. The same with theory. Each concept is a little tool, and you can start to use it in all sorts of interesting ways, for noticing the patterns in your pieces you play to understand what makes a piece of music work, and thereby also to be able to more easily play the piece, since you understand the patterns that it's composed of.
Technique:
Technique is basically playing through scales, arpeggios, and chords etc, in the most efficient way you can.
This is because, in music, certain patterns are used a lot. So if you isolate these patterns, and practice them in the most efficient way you can, using the best fingers etc, then when you want to use the patterns in your Improv, or when you have to play the pattern in a piece you are reading through, then you will be able to identify the pattern and easily play it.
This is actually partly one of the big ways people are able to read and play music so quickly, because they aren't seeing every single note individually like a beginner is, but instead they see that group of notes as one of those recurring patterns, and because they practiced playing those patterns in the most efficient ways they could through Technique practice, when they see the pattern they can just let their muscle memory do the work for them.
Improvisation:
Improvisation goes well with Theory and Technique, because Improvisation is a chance for you to play around with patterns you learned about in Theory.
If you want to master Theory and remember it, it's highly adviseable to try to put the pattern to use some how in an Improv or Composition session, so you can bring it into physical reality and play around with it, instead of it just existing as a mental concept only.
Composition:
This can be a great way to get better with Theory.
You likely already know how important and valuable it is to be able to READ, and WRITE in life in general. This is why it's important to compose, because then you can begin to master your ability to write as well as read music.
One of the best ways to practice and have fun playing around with composition, is with a notation software.
The one I use is called MuseScore. It's completely free for people on their laptops, or desktop computers.
Music History:
This one is one that many overlook, but you can learn a lot about music and ideas to impliment, by learning some Music History. Humans have been making music for a very long time, so to be able to look back and learn what people where doing in various eras, can really help you enrich yourself with a broader scope of their accumulated knowledge.
Of course you don't have to do all of these in one day like I used to, but it can be good to know what they are do you can perhaps do some one day and another another day.
Interested in Lessons with Me?
I have a highly affordable
new method for teaching,
and theres a free trial!
Send me a message!
The Deal
Why Choose Lessons with Me?
(Make Video of Content Below)
Who Am I?:
Hello! Nice to meet you, my name is William Devonshire. :)
- I've Obtained My Grade 8 Guitar, Grade 6 Piano, and Grade 9 Theory all with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
- I Have 14 Years of Teaching Experience.
- I've Guided Hundreds of Students from Complete Beginner to Highly Advanced Levels.
- I'm a Prolific Composer, Song-Writer, and Berklee Graduate for Music Production.
- and a Professional Performing Artist, Playing Cafes, Pubs, Private Parties and Restaurants.
What I Can Teach
Instruments:
- Guitar
- Piano
- Ukulele
Topics:
- Repertoire/ Pieces
- Performance
- Sight Reading
- Technique
- Improvisation
- Theory
- Composition
- History
How Lessons Work:
1. Assess
When we first start lessons I must assess the student.
- What are their goals?
- What's their preferred instrument?
- Do they know anything about
the instrument already? etc etc.
2. Lesson
Once I've assessed the student, I will give specific resources, which I think are exactly what they need to progress.
This will be in the form of:
- Conversations with Me
- Texts
- Videos
- Pictures
- PDF Files
- Games
- Etc etc Relevent Resources
Essentially whatever it takes to help the student progress.
3. Assignment
After the student has digested the material I supplied for them in the lessons portion, I then give them an assignment which helps them better understand, further master and solidify their new found knowledge.
This might be in the form of them recording themselves playing a song for instance, and sending it to me so I can see and hear them in action and give more specific feedback.
Testimonial
Why You Need A Teacher
It's not absolutely necessary, but...
Chairs aren't absolutely necessary, but they're definitely useful and nice to have. Windows aren't absolutely necessary, but they are also quite a blessing to have the fresh air and sunlight. etc etc...
The first people who started learning music didn't need it, right? Unless the aliens taught it to them, but then again, who taught it to the aliens?
It depends on what you want to learn. If all you want to do is play a few simple chords around the campfire, and you're self disciplined, then you probably don't need a teacher for that.
The more you want to learn, the more a good teacher is beneficial.
It's like any human discovery. Through the tens of thousands of years of human evolution, people have struggled to make discoveries. It would be crazy of us to disregard all they discovered, just so we can go through all the trouble they went through, to rediscover what they already discovered.
Same with music, it's better to stand on the shoulders of the discoveries of countless lives before us, so we can go even further than they could've.
Alternatives to a Teacher:
- YouTube
- Method Books
- Yousician
The problem with these ways:
The problem with these ways though is they tend to be ONE WAY.
It's a great tool to help teach the fundamentals, but its quite one directional and doesnt do everything and therefore doesnt replace a teacher lets look more into why.
The computer doesnt listen to you and watch how you play like a teacher who's been teaching for 13 years, and playing for 22 years, and give you personalized feedback.
You cant ask the computer questions and get personalized feedback (yet).
I’ve taught many YouTube learners, people that tried it for a few years. They all can play a few famous intros, but have no idea how to count, where the notes on the fretboard are, theory concepts etc..
Also a teacher teaches how to use new music learning tech to your benefit. The teacher can encompass all the technologies, whereas the technologies neither encompass all of the other technologies, nor the teacher.
A teacher can be more subtle and flexible in their approach, whereas technologies can be rigid.
The RIGHT teacher will see your likes, listen to your aspirations, offer inspiration in different directions, and spot/correct subtle things that can hurt your playing. You will make more progress, and develop fewer bad habits.
I'm not against online by any means, and am self taught to a degree, but have had a lifetime of learning music, from many experts as well.
Teachers can see and hear things that computers cant... yet...
They're... listening.... to... us...!
Is there a better way to learn
then a personalized and qualified mentor?
If money wasn't an issue and you had the choice to learn alone or with a expert teacher/ mentor, then what would you prefer?
If you had the choice between a robot, a book, or a seasoned, personalized and qualified mentor what would you choose?
The benefits of having a teacher are immeasurable as compared to self-directed studies. Is this not self evident?
You dont just want a teacher you want a GREAT teacher.
I've taught hundreds and hundreds of students for 14 (written in 2023) years now. I'd have to be an ostrich not to notice a pattern of success. Heck I wouldn't have been able to teach so long, and so many happy students. I'dve been fired if they werent getting results.
Isn't it important to have have a mentor in anything you wish to excel at?! Or are you happy to take lessons from a pickle?! Is that what you want?! A pickle for a teacher?!
Great Players tend to Have Great Teachers:
I know a guy who has a masters degree in music, been playing professionally for 30 years. Has his own book out.... and HE STILL STUDIES with masters from different genres.
Bach, (considered to be one of the greatest composers who ever lived) then a young man of twenty, walked from Arnstadt to Lübeck, a distance of more than 400 kilometres (250 miles), and stayed nearly three months to hear the Abendmusik, meet the pre-eminent Lübeck organist, hear him play, and, as Bach explained, "to comprehend one thing and another about his art".
Yes on your own is cheaper (not necessarily in terms of the time you might spend messing about), and you do what you can do with what you have, but are you telling me that if the musician you most look up to offered to give you weekly lessons for free you wouldnt take it?
Teachers give structure
Theres no such thing as not having a teacher.
You're always learning from someone
Even Jimi Hendrix, though many know him as self taught, learnt from people throughout his life. Different band members or guys he knew who knew stuff, they would show him this or that, and he was able to collect it all in little lessons from them here and there.
Save time, save money, and save yourself
from the frustration, confusion, and self doubt
that comes from learning alone.
Time is money, and it generally takes more time to learn alone than with a teacher, for obvious reasons.
Have you ever seen those kids who can play music better than you can? Do you think most of them reached that level on their own?
Wouldn't it be nice to have someone who knows your goals, and will tell you if you're actually on the right path to them, as opposed to you just stumbling around confused and frustrated wasting time?
Imagine putting time and effort into learning and practicing something that will eventually turn out to be wrong. And then you will struggle to unlearn it and then RElearn it properly.
Now instead imagine almost giving up on something important, but your teacher, knowing how important it is, encourages you to continue. You didnt even know it was important, or you deemed it "too hard", and were ready to just give up.
Would you rather poke around for hours on the internet looking for what you should do next, confused, frustrated, and distracted, or just have someone hear your goals, and hear how you play, and offer you direct and immediate personalized information, in small chunked actionable steps, all while holding you accountable?
It’s about productivity and knowledge. For productivity- you could spend 30 minutes trying to find something to haphazardly learn on YouTube. Then another 30 minutes to learn it. In that hour you could have been practicing exercises that will move you forward, being more productive with your time.
An expert teacher can get you from A to Z generally quicker, and more efficiently, then doing it alone.
A few years with a teacher can go a long way. In some cases you can save yourself years.
One can spend YEARS trying to figure out something on their own, that a teacher could have corrected in ONE LESSON!
You dont wanna tell people your self taught for five years, and be worse than someone that's played for one year with a teacher.
Save countless hrs doing unproductive guitaring.
Expert teachers are also aware of a lot of inexpensive, or free technology, and resources that can supplement and amplify your success.
I dont plan on teaching my students forever, I plan on empowering them to take their learning into their own hands more.
Teachers can use technology but tech cant use teachers... dun dun dun! Or can they!?