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The first crossword puzzle, created by Arthur Wynne,
published in the New York World on December 21, 1913.
While solving today’s New York Times crossword, the various methods people use inspired me to write this post.
Do you do puzzles? How do you go about it?
Some people:
go across first, then down, always in order
do the reverse
skip all over the puzzle
do the long clues first
do all the short words first
Sometimes I like to solve one word across, then down, alternating until I get to the bottom of the puzzle grid.
Do you have a consistent approach? Or do you mix it up?
Not every puzzle works the same way.
Flexibility rocks!
All of the above can be applied to practicing.
If every piece is approached the same way, practicing is boring.
A Saturday morning student brought a book of Irish tunes for flute with piano accompaniment this week, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. We had a great time doing something different!
She showed me how she had practiced the tune (flute part) with the right hand of the piano part. I thought that was an interesting choice ~ not what I would have chosen, but who says you can’t do it that way?
After she played her version, I wanted to see what happened if she switched around. So she played the tune and the left hand, then both hands of the piano part.
Then I asked her to play the piano part while I played the tune.
When we switched to a different piece, our final version for the day was with her playing the tune and the left hand while I played the right hand part above the tune.
My student found that she could be more flexible than she ever thought possible. I think that came from doing something different in the first place ~ she had to let go.
So learn music like a crossword!
Skip around. Don’t do the same thing the same way every single day.
Sometimes:
Practice hands alone
Start with the development section
Nail the key changes by starting before and continuing past a key change for a couple of bars
Nail the meter changes in the same way
Tempo changes too
Dynamic changes
Practice the end first
Work on the most difficult sections, then switch to another piece
Look at the music away from the instrument. Sing it in your head.
Conduct
Dance around the room while you sing out loud
Teach it to someone else
Play sequences/repetitions out of order, last section first
And then play it like you are performing it!
Did you solve the whole puzzle?
Any questions? 😉
nrhatch said:
I love the way that you expand piano lessons to life lessons.
When I’m doing a “too easy” crossword, I go straight forward clue to clue. When I’m challenged, I bounce around . . . letting the puzzle and my knowledge lead the way.
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Nancy!
Thanks.
You have a handle on the way you approach different types of crosswords! I haven’t reached that level of analysis. But I don’t find myself going straight across and then down very often.
Sometimes I do the biblical clues first ~ they’re first in my brain due to my background.
Thanks for checking in!
Gretchen
Steve Myers said:
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for this post – you give a lot of nice insights here. I also think there are a lot of similarities between practicing music and solving a puzzle, especially for musicians who are working out songs and pieces by ear. This is the approach we’ve taken with most of the ear training games on Theta Music Trainer.
Best,
Steve
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your comments!
Music does present many smaller pieces that can be solved and later put into place.
Games are a wonderful idea for approaching music! It should be fun.
Thanks for stopping by.
Gretchen
Daniel S. said:
Hey Gretchen,
I really enjoy reading your insightful and refreshing comments about the life of teaching in piano. Unlike most blogs today, you offer high quality and engaging content. I am looking forward to reading more about your piano teaching endeavors.
-Daniel
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Daniel,
Thanks so much! Nice to see you here. 🙂
Gretchen
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