In practicing, students usually fall into one of two groups. Using highly technical terms (not), I call these groups:
1) those who get lost in details (detail-ers)
2) those who run through material without much attention (runners)
‘Detailers’ enjoy the process and can get lost in musical minutiae, forgetting that time exists. An hour later they may have completed work on two measures.
‘Runners’ enjoy playing music from start to finish without stopping. They rarely listen well or fix issues. Then they go walk their dog or text their friends.b
Truth is, we need a balance between being a Detailer and a Runner in our daily practice.
Below is a formula for practicing that includes time for detail work and time for performance. I’ve put everything in percentages that can easily be changed into number of minutes. Use a timer. Note: there is no magic in this formula. As I always say, make my ideas work for YOU. I have shown two options only as a starting point. Be creative!
CLARINET DIVAS 