What is the most effective way to practice and learn a difficult piece of music?

Question

I've recently received a difficult audition piece for orchestra, and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for effective practicing.

Answer 1

I find that listening to the finished copy, on recording or youtube or something helps me a lot. Basic slow practise etc. all helps but in addition, if i have a really hard time getting the feel of the music and i'm not confident in what i'm hearing, i listen to a finished version and find that the tune sticks with me, and helps with difficult rhythms, articulations and dynamics.

Answer 2

Well, if you're having trouble with the rhythm, try making different patterns. For example, if it's a sixteenth note run, make it eighth notes, or quarter eighth eighth quarter or dotted eighth sixteenth. This also helps you with difficult notes. Practice this with little sections at a time. Every time you learn a section, play from the beginning up to that section so that you won't forget how to play the ones you learned before it. Good luck :)

Answer 3

Read the whole song first, become familiar with the time structure, sing it if you can, play it slowly.

It has always helped me.

Answer 4

Play it over and over and over this is what she did!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Y7GSn8nUpM

Answer 5

play it slowly, and write in a bunch of notes.  if its in a funky key, write in accidentals to remind you.  play it slow until youve got it, then brign it up to tempo.  exxagerate all the markings so you know when to crescendo, decresendo, diminuendo etc.

Answer 6

First, make a copy of the piece, so you can write all over it.

Then play it through slowly, making notes at the spots that are difficult.

Each time you practice the piece, start with the more difficult parts first, THEN play it through from the beginning.  

When you master the notes, play through the entire piece, using a metronome at a slow tempo.   Then practice it over and over again, gradually increasing the tempo on the metronome.

Good luck!