33 minutes today!

I practiced for 33 minutes today! I decided to devote the time to Band arrangements. I used the online metronome to help with tempos.

I practiced Rumble on the High plains for 10 minutes. I practiced measures 41 - 48. I can now play measure 48 rather well, I'm still having trouble with switching from the low F sharp to the high E flat. I used repition and increase of tempo to practice. Then I practiced the run at 205. I'm still not very good at it, but i'm seeing a great improvement in the speed of which i can play it properly. I used the increase of tempo to practice.

I practiced Light Eternal for 5 minutes, working on measures 143 - 159. I can play this section alot better and at a faster tempo. I'm still having some difficulty with switching fingerings at fast speeds, but I can its going smoother now.

I practiced Second Suite in F for the remaining 18 minutes. I practiced from A - E for the first movement. I can play it fairly well, my only difficulties being with the constant higher notes. I practiced the J and K and I've found that this is the easiest part of the first movement, and my favourite. I then practiced the second movement, which in itself isn't hard since there are no tricky rhythms. I then practiced B - F of the fourth movement. I find this section particularily easy, except for the high G. I practiced this piece by repition.

10 Minutes of Chromatic Scales

I practiced for 10 minutes today. I only worked on the first four Chromatic Scales. I devoted most of the time to the first two scales, since that's what our test is supposed to be on. I'm still having trouble reading sharps, but I'm getting better at it. It now only takes me a few seconds to remember that D sharp is actually E flat now.

I just kept repeating the scales until I was able to play it relatively well. It went alot smoother than on Friday, so I'm improving :D. I also increased tempo a lot faster than I did on Friday. I plan to work on the Chromatic Scales even after this test, as it will help improve my fingers and my sharp reading abilities.

I practised today!!

I practiced for 15 minutes today. I devoted the first 8 minutes to working on the first 4 Chromatic Excercises. By far the easiest to play were number 1 and number 3. I'm still having trouble with the excercises with sharps. I practiced very slowly at first, and gradually sped up. It's not perfect, but they are sounding a lot better than when I first started.

For the last 7 minutes I practiced some scales annd their Skill building components. So far I have had no problems with the scales of B flat maj, G min, E flat maj, or C min. The only thing that I need to work on with those scales are their Scale Skills, which I again started off slow, and gradually sped up (the E flat and C scale skills were the only ones I needed to do this for)

I'm not to surprised I got so much done in such a short time period, since I've worked on them in class as well. But I think I'm doing much better at the Chromatic Scales. I only wish my flute would co-operate, I'm loosing a battle with it's evil sticky keys.

LOL this is David Archuleta reacting to hearing himself sing! I don't know why he's freaking out about it, it sounded AWESOME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpxiTffnt54

Happy Valentine's Day!

David's Wishing us all a Happy Valentine's Day