pavloconga wrote:If you don't have a high-level accomplished player to learn from...
regards
Pavlo
If at all possible, find that teacher and hook up with him, even if only for a few lessons, even if it means a bit of a drive, because starting out with good technique will open the door for learning at a dramatic pace for the rest of your life, and also get you to where you can competently play gigs much faster.
It is really easy to think your interpretation of good technique from a video is ok when it is not - the video only shows so much, and relating what it shows to your own personal posture, arm position, relaxation, breathing, wrist action, and striking technique may be next to impossible, because you can't accurately see what you are really doing, like a teacher/mentor/coach can. He will also give you the right exercises at the right time to bring you along as a player and "set the table" for future progress. A good teacher is worth his weight in gold, at least that has been my experience. I will be forever grateful to JC for hooking me up with my teacher!
And, I fully second the advice to practice slowly at first, always with the goal of using good technique and achieving correct sounds. If you speed up and notice any sacrifice in sound quality, however slight, slow right back down and start over slow again, making the right sounds, never sacrificing sounds for speed. Also, it really helps to develop your sense of timing using a metronome when you are doing drills.
If I recall correctly, there was a post made here sometime last year which stated "the speed shows up on its own." With just over a year of lessons and many hours of practice in my basement behind me, that statement has proven itself true over and over again. It is simply a matter of putting in the time and the repetitions slowly, day after day, then one day you realize that you can command it at any speed!
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 10:31 am