self

"If you think you got it, record yourself and listen back to see if you 'really' got it" said Rod Piazza in a conversation regarding preparation for the performance of a song.

It's difficult to listen to yourself closely enough while playing to make an accurate assessment of your performance. Make use of the easy tool of recording (most of us have phones or computers that have recording software and microphones built in) for self-assessment. continue reading...

Work on a passage until you feel like you have it. Record yourself playing that passage. Listen to the original recording with sheet music in hand (if available) so you have a clear reference of what the passage should sound like. Listen back to the recording of your performance and with a pencil circle any areas on the transcription that you feel don't quite sound right. Listen back numerous times, to both the original and your recording, to pinpoint exactly what needs work.

Our best tool for bettering our playing is to record ourselves and listen back with a critical ear. If you use this tool correctly, by the time you send your final recording of a study song to me, it should be pretty dialed in. I shouldn’t be making comments about missed notes, they should be more about technique, tone and approach. When listening back to your recording, use your finger to follow along with the provided music/TAB and mark areas that need improvement. continue reading...