When I am working on a new piece or revisiting an old one, like the Bach partita I’ve been immersed in, there are always moments when I hit ‘record’ during my practice. This isn’t for YouTube or necessarily anything polished.
Two Reasons I Record Myself
The first, is to keep the recording as part of my video practice journal. I learned that for me, keeping the journal in writing form alone is not enough. The writing part keeps the practice organized, but I tend to respond better when replaying the videos and can then make smarter decisions about how to proceed (and also, what NOT to change for the time being). This brings on the second purpose, and that is to be able to listen to myself from a “distance” as “my own teacher” more successfully. It’s too easy to miss details when you base your own playing on instant response. Taking up the role of the “neutral observer/listener” is more effective.
Lately, I’ve been sharing some of these recordings in a new space—a small, growing collection in my Patreon library. In these videos, I talk through why I chose the practice strategies I did, what I’m listening for, and how I coach myself through tough spots. Here’s a small clip extracted from one of these videos:
In this clip, I’m working through the opening of the Bourree movement of Bach’s b-minor partita with focus on finding places to release and reset. The full video shows a larger part of the session, in context.
Why am I sharing these?
I’ve learned something from years of teaching – as vital as lessons are, the biggest progress often happens in the practice room, when you have to be your own teacher. Watching someone else’s process (not their polished performance, but their actual problem-solving strategies and thought processes) can be really helpful in learning how to be a better practicer. It can give examples of questions you can ask yourself and how to observe/respond in a more curious and caring manner. This is the kind of realistic content I wish I had access to “back in the old days” when I was inexperienced with effective practicing and also didn’t know how to be kinder to myself while simultaneously aiming for higher standards. It’s also a good reminder that even professional players try things that don’t work!
What else is in the library this month?
A short session on how I shift in 3 and 4-octave scales. Here’s a clip preview: