Practice Tip: Listening
This blog could be a note to myself. I want to listen better to music! I often see students playing guitar using hand/eye coordination. The problem with this is that they can become too preoccupied with the mechanics of playing and less focused on the actual sound of the music they are playing. The end result is usually music that contains the right notes, in the right order, but often rhythmically incorrect and/or melodies that are not played legato (in a smooth, flowing manner without breaks between notes). What we all need to do is play with more ear/hand coordination. That is, playing our instruments in a way that mimics what we hear around us, and within us. Let me tell you about something funny that I see all the time. When I notice that my students are looking at their fret hand, I’ll say, “Play it again, but this time close your eyes.” You know what usually happens next? They tip their ear towards the guit...