As musicians, we have all been taught that practice makes perfect. The more time we dedicate to our instruments, the better we become. In reality, however, how long you practice is not nearly as important as what you practice.
The problem with blindly playing scales and exercises for hours every day is that these motions rarely translate into real-world musicality. To play like a musician, you first need to practice like one. With that in mind, here are five ways to level up your practice routine and practice more musically.
1. Add dynamics to your scales
One problem with practicing scales is that they do not sound musical when played in their standard sequences. Almost no music consists of a single scale played from beginning to end without any variation in melody, rhythm, or structure. A great way to make your scales sound more musical is to add simple dynamic changes.
For example, try starting your scales at piano and gradually increasing to forte once you reach the top of the scale. Then decrease your volume again as you descend. Besides making scales more interesting and enjoyable to play, this technique helps train your coordination while building muscle memory that allows you to control the dynamics of your instrument more easily.
2. Add rhythmic variations
Scales and exercises are often taught and played in simple 4/4 time. Try making them more interesting by adjusting the meter or structure of your exercises. For example, you can practice scales in triplets instead of quarter notes or eighth notes. You can also change the sequence of the notes, such as three notes ascending and one note descending.
Incorporating these changes will not only make your practice more challenging, but also much more musical, as many melodies are scales played in a more interesting order.
3. Practice song sections instead of exercises
While exercises can be great when applied in a certain context, the best way to gain practical instrumental skills is by playing real music. Instead of going through boring practice routines that consist of exercise after exercise, try practicing with songs you enjoy.
For example, if you are a guitarist who wants to master pinch harmonics, you can pick a song that features many harmonics and learn those sections. Aside from being much more fun and rewarding, this method will give you more practical skills to bring on stage with you.
4. Practice with friends
Another way to make your practice more musical is to invite other musicians to practice with you. With multiple people playing a certain exercise or scale, especially on different instruments, the act of practicing becomes much more creative and collaborative.
If you are practicing a scale, ask a friend to play a corresponding chord progression. You can also harmonize scales, provide comping while the other person solos, and more. The possibilities are endless.
5. Create your own exercises
If you have specific musical areas that you would like to improve, you can design exercises and routines around those areas. This allows you to make your practice as musical as you want it to be.
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