Sometimes it is obvious when you need to take a practice break. Like at the 45 minute mark, after practicing single note “Mary Had a Little Lamb” “Row Row Row Your Boat” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, mid song you think, “Does the human lip actually have muscles” then Google human lip anatomy. Yep, time to finishing painting the hall closet that’s been sitting horizontally in my kitchen for 2 weeks.
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As soon as you are not enjoying it. I place no time limit, especially when I am making progress on a song I am in the process of learning. When I take a break I look at the tabs as many tunes have repetitive lines or ones that are a note different. Patterns are what I look for. I started a tough tune that is far beyond my talent level. I was just listening to it and noticed two other tunes in the sound track are a portion of the theme song, played with different rhythm. If I know the rhythm I spot more similarities and this speeds up the process. I have about decided if your single note play, bending and placement of the harp inside your mouth there are fewer songs that seem impossible. Every song I know or listen to starts and ends with a note. Its the rhythm that I feel is so important and the closer i get to playing tune fairly well the more the small timing errors show. once I get them cleaned up its a matter of practice and listening, These and mistake you learn from are the best teacher to have as you move forward. But this is just my opinion, If you can play the a simple tune I would bet you will be better six months from now and better than will be in six months a year from now
Painting my wife’s art room with nine gallons taught me to never look strait up while doing the roof and do it when the weather sucks and you are not feeling up to playing a harp. Also never paint something for an artist as your smaller mistakes, like laying a harp, really show up and its you take has to fix them.
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I’m inclined to agree with @scott4. I sometimes find myself playing through my repertoire as though it’s a list of chores to achieve and realise I’m not enjoying it. Then I chastise myself and take a break. Problem is, I get bored with the songs that I can already play, so, I’m always looking for and learning something new. The new tune will be exciting for a while, then the pleasure diminishes after playing it fifty times. I should probably slow down a bit, but overall, I love it.
I’ve got some painting to do also. Maybe we could all get one of those rack things, so we can paint and play at the same time
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I have always eaten when hungry, sleep when tired and drink when thirsty but I skipped chores 2 days in a row to play. I think I need to paint and paint tomorrow. I like where you are going with it though.
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This in my opinion is how to improve in the most efficient manner. Some people play what they know but I am a strong proponent of tackling a tougher song ever time you pick another. I heard El Pasa Condor and thought it would be great practice but I could not really learn it. I am proving myself wrong.
I just picked up the soundtrack from the movie Dances With Wolves, written by john Barry. I am learning it in pieces and it will be a long process. There are eight bends and the rhythm tough to get down. Its a long and makes a player move all over the harp from -1 to 10. I sat down and looked at the note layout and many of the songs are in the long version. I am a believer that to improve you have to raise the bar on an ongoing basis. I know well its along term effort but a weight lifter that got o the Olympics did not get there lifting 100 pond weights. like anything else the best at anything started small and worked up. I am no super star but only want to get as good as I can playing the harp. Could care less about being in a band as I just love to play it. Small, grab it and play without any equipment to deal with or maintain.
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I ran out of paint, energy and had all the fun there is to paint anything. She got the whole storage area and my harps on a 30 by 18 inch table. If you are not getting paid firing you or a pay cut is not an option.