These are some extra tips that will help you when you are struggling with tempo, motivation, rhythms, or difficult passages. Feel free to ask Ms. Rutledge for more tips and tricks as needed!

1. Don't forget to warm-up 

   • the muscles in our hands need to warm-up just like our other muscles

2. Practice Slowwwww 

   • I know.....you've heard this a thousand times

3. Practice with a metronome 

   • speed up the metronome 1-2 bpm at a time

4. Record yourself playing and listen back

   • This will help you hear things you haven't heard before! Even if you don't want to listen to yourself, it will help you tremendously.

5. Take it one measure at a time 

   • Keep going until you have practiced four measures independently. Then, go back and play the four measure phrase. Finally, try the whole section again. 

6. Play it correctly 3-10 times in a row correctly

   • Practice makes permanent not perfect, so make sure you aren't memorizing wrong notes/rhythms. 

7. Set goals for yourself