Part 6: Developing Hand Independence (Exercise 13 & 16)
Welcome to a set of four new exercises designed to further develop your hand independence, continuing with four notes in each hand.
Day 1: Getting Familiar with the Exercises
- Written Guidance: Before diving into playing, read the ‘Detailed Breakdown of Exercises’ in the Materials tab. It offers an in-depth view of what to expect and how best to tackle these exercises.
- Sheet Music Practice: Before watching the video, try to figure out the notes on your own using the sheet music. This helps develop your reading skills.
- Video Practice: Now, watch the lesson video and play along. Use this opportunity to correct any mistakes you might have made initially.
- Exercise 15 – Audio Download: Grab the MP3 file available in the Materials tab.
- Groove Along: Play along with the ‘Exercise 15 – A B C D notes groove 2’ track. This will help you integrate what you’ve learned with a rhythmic backing.
Day 2: Refining Your Skills
- Focused Practice: Revisit the sheet music and practice it repeatedly until you feel comfortable with each exercise.
- Self-Test: Assess your performance by asking these questions:
- a.) Are you playing the correct notes?
- b.) Are you maintaining the right rhythm?
- c.) Is your hand position correct? To be absolutely sure, practice again with the video. Any discrepancies in sound will provide instant feedback.
- Consistency Challenge: Aim to perform each exercise correctly three times consecutively using the sheet music.
- Backing Track Practice: Finish up by playing along with the ‘Exercise 15 – A B C D notes groove 2’ track again, ensuring you don’t miss the beat.
Successfully completing Step 4 on Day 2 means you’re prepared to advance to the next lesson. Great job on enhancing your hand independence and sight-reading skills!
Detailed Breakdown of Exercises 13 - 16
- Standard Procedure: As with previous exercises, start with the right hand, then move to the left hand. Next, play with both hands together slowly, and gradually increase the speed once you're comfortable.
- Mastery Check: To ensure you've truly mastered each exercise, play them three times in a row without any mistakes. This consistency is key to confirming your proficiency.
- Common Mistake #1 - Limited Finger Use: A frequent issue at this stage is avoiding the ring finger, which is often the weakest. Many students try to play with only three fingers. Remember, using the ring finger is crucial for balanced hand development. Give it the attention and practice it deserves to strengthen it.
- Common Mistake #2 - Over-Reliance on Fingering Numbers: The goal is to read the notes, not just the numbers. This is vital because, as you progress, those helpful numbers will disappear. If you find yourself lost without them, it's a sign to go back to Part 1 of this series and focus on learning the notes themselves. Practice saying or singing the notes aloud to reinforce your knowledge. This step is crucial for advancing your sight-reading skills.
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