Back in December, I decided I wanted to learn how to play a piece on the old classical guitar composed by Domenico Scarlatti (Sonata in A Major (K. 322, L 483)), originally composed for keyboard.
This is the longest and most difficult piece I’ve undertaken from scratch in a very very long time.
The first thing I do when I look at the sheet music is circle the measures that I know will be a challenge. Like this bit:
Then I start from the first measure and practice two or three measures at a time, until I come to a very difficult bit. It may be just a few notes, but I’ll practice those 10, 20, 30 times in succession, whatever it takes. Maybe it gets better, easier. The next day, I start practice by playing that tricky bit again, over and over.
This was how my guitar teacher taught me how to practice and this method dovetailed with my tenacity and obsessiveness. I didn’t need to master the piece after a few run throughs. I was content to hear, feel, and see my improvement one note at a time. I’m still that way, whether it’s learning new music or making A Life’s Work.
[Photo by Sandra Dal Poggetto. You can listen to an excerpt of Sandra’s essay on Annie Oakley on a regional NPR.]
It’s come in handy in life, and I’m very grateful to my guitar teacher for guiding me toward this work ethic.
Some random thoughts and questions on this.
I’ve seen this tenacity and obsessiveness as a guitar teacher and it happens in some younger students and especially, in my experience, with teenage boys. Is it something we’re all born with and it’s waiting for expression?
I’ve noticed that my older students don’t get the same sense of accomplishment from practicing hours and hours. Do we lose the ability to derive satisfaction from conquering the baby steps as we get older? Or are we just more impatient? My older students want to be able to play a song masterfully, but some just don’t want to — or can’t put in — the required time. Do we simply get too busy? We don’t have the time? Or do we lose the drive?
Let’s discuss.
While you ponder the comment you’re going to leave, why not listen to John Williams playing the Scarlatti.
If you want to hear me play some classical guitar and you don’t mind low-fi and flubs, go to the Music page.