Jennifer recently responded to an e-mail:
Hi XXXX,
Good to know that you're practicing. Learning to enjoy the process of practice is half the game!
Read on:
<< I have been playing along with my album collection for a while now, and I feel like my sense of time has progressed.>>
Good
<< I have heard that some people swear by using a metronome and others say to never use one at all. When should one use a metronome, if at all?>>
I still use one. It's important to play everything correctly at the slowest speed before you increase the tempo. Learn it perfectly at the slowest tempo, then gradually increase in increments that you can handle. NEVER play faster than the point where you start making mistakes! Here's what I call the practice axiom:
Accuracy + repetition = speed , Speed+ repetition does not = accuracy
<< I play four different scales a day, and play a few exercises with them, like in thirds and fourths and so on, though I feel at times that that is all I end up doing, and that I should be doing something else, I am confused on why there are people that refuse exercises, where should I focus most of my attention, some people tell me to just transcribe, learn the scales, but not really get obsessed with them, and learn the licks from the solos all over the place.>>
You need to do all of the above, they work hand in glove. There are some very good books that cover a lot of the scalar stuff, Ray Brown's and Rufous Reed's come to mind.
Keep at it and good luck!
Jennifer Leitham August 7, 2002
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