Thomas J. West Music

Many young students (and even some old pros who are in a hurry) practice from the beginning of a piece of music to the end repeatedly. Since a performer makes the most progress on a piece when they are efficiently playing the highest number of successful repetitions of the music, it only makes sense to break the music down by section in order to give the more technical passages the attention and repetition they deserve.

Most music has a recognizable form. Binary form (A-B-A) is very common and a staple of much of the repertoire written for school bands and orchestras. Identify sections that repeat, then only practice them once. Note any variations between the repeats, but don't waste time practicing the refrain over and over simply because you're doing a play-through.

The B section of the piece is inevitably the one that has a contrasting tonal center, altered harmonies, or a time signature change. Identify the differences and make sure you're getting them.

Efficient, successful repetition of all musical elements is what turns a novice into a master. Identifying patterns to practice is the "efficient" part.

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