Learn, Practise, Apply.

Also pictured: FIFA 11 and International Cricket 2010

I have always been really interested in the theory behind learning new things. Modelling, scaffolding, zones of proximal development etc. Given my vocation as an educator to children this is no bad thing. Critically analysing the way we learn things and the way we practise things can make our learning more effective. In a busy world, we need to be smart about how we learn things to achieve the best possible results. Here's what I came up with and how I applied it to learning how to read bass clef and playing it on the bass guitar.

Learn
This is the boring and tedious part. I sat down with a piece of paper with a huge scale on it. It covered about three octaves, from the lowest E to the highest D on the bass guitar. All I did was look at the piece of paper and play along. Up the scale and down the scale.It is a dull process. It was also very easy. If things are easy it is possible to get complacent, so definitely don't

Practise
In my experience, learning works best when I do something little and often. If I had a spare ten minutes at any point, I would try and get some quality bass clef time in. To practise, I picked up random pieces of music and went through them, writing the names of the notes above the crotchets, minims and quavers. When I had become familiar with reading them I tried playing them, using my notations as help if I got stuck, while trying not to rely on them too much.  I can already read the alphabet, that wasn't the point of the exercise!

It is important to remember that repetition is not always the answer. Yes, smart practise requires one to do things over and over, but it can be super unhelpful if you're making the same mistakes over and over again! Don't do that. Zoom in. Micromanage the things you find hard.

Apply
This is the tricky part. It is okay to be able to read and play notes in isolation, but playing them in the context of a piece of music is  a whole different animal. I had to give meaning to my learning! This is where the original baffling ordeal came in to play. The choir. I used the sheet music, intended for singing practise, for bass practise. Thus bringing the two together! Not only was I able to get to grips with the tunes I was meant to be singing, but I was able to reinforce my bass clef sight reading. This is what we, in the business, call efficient practise.

I'm by no means an expert and still need to carry on practising as not to undo last weeks work. However, I do feel more confident in both singing and playing which can only be a good thing. If not for me, but for those who will be listening to me and the rest of the choir in 27 days time!