Practicing With Imagination

By Anne Sullivan

Sometimes we get caught up in the repetition that is part of practice and we forget that practice can be interesting and creative too. You might not think you have time to be creative, but here are three ways to add some imagination to your practice and still get your work done.

1. Make Your Etude a Story

I get it - etudes and exercises aren’t always the most interesting part of our practice. But what if you gave your etude that has no other name than “Etude 14” a name that suggested a story? Instead of practicing Etude 14, you could practice “Skiing in Switzerland.” Your scales or arpeggios are suddenly musical runs down the mountain. You might want to add some dynamics to make your skiing story more exciting. Or a title like “By a Quiet Stream” might give you a different way to play the same etude. Even plain exercises can be more musical with a little imagination.

2. Banish Boredom

Tired of doing the same passage over and over again? Try a “what if.” What if that gavotte were really a waltz? Or maybe a cowboy song?Can you play a normally peppy piece as a funeral dirge or a contemplative piece as a rollicking jig? Mix up your music with different rhythms or meters and different moods. Then play it again the way it was written.You will know you’re doing it right if you can make yourself laugh! (Here’s a hint: this often works wonders for your attitude when you use this technique on a piece you’re not particularly fond of but need to learn!)

3. Time for a Change

Try playing your exercises with a different setting for your levers or pedals.You could decide to play them in minor instead of major or change the key altogether.Even better, try a random setting of levers of pedals that isn’t even an actual key. You might discover that playing even a simple scale is more challenging when your ear can’t predict what note is next. It’s a brain teaser that is good for your technique and your musical skills too.

Who said practice is boring?