how to learn notes accurately

if there's any kind of "secret sauce" with my playing or my auditioning, it definitely comes down to the way i learn notes. i found this system of learning notes that is so secure, so foolproof, and helps me play so confidently that i pretty much use it for everything. i call it the ROAM method.

i also have students who play strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, timpani, harp, piano and guitar who swear by this process. (i even had a student pick up the harmonica and tell me it was effective.)

this is phase 1 of my audition preparation process. learn the rest:

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ABOUT ME

chapters
0:00 intro
1:12 why i don't slow practice
3:46 the ROAM method
5:25 R is for repetition
6:47 O is for one-Note
8:29 A is for at-tempo
8:50 M is for metronome

[lindalangeheine]

I learned this method in 1974! My professor called it the Sevcik method. It seems to take more time but, in the end, you've done some incredibly solid learning and probably will never forget it.😀 Starting at the end avoids overlearning the beginning of a passage and loosing steam toward the end. I've found mental practice in between 'takes' really helps.

[jollkki]

If i didn't read a sport study that showed better movements and shot accuracy in speed study group, I wouldn't give 'At-tempo' method a second thought. But your method seems potentially more efficient than slow study. I'll try it right away. So exciting!

[geebob]

well..Seems to work. Opening page of a Moscheles Etude in C has tempo marked dotted quarter =112. 6/8 meter with 6-16th notes per beat.
After a LONG LONG time practicing this, I never got it past 80=dotted quarter. After this video, I tried the first page as demonstrated, with metronome at 112=dotted quarter. After about 20-30 minutes, I played the first page really accurately at 112=dotted quarter. I am certainly encouraged!!

[christopherdockulp]

Okay, I have to admit, I passed this off at first, not wanting to change the old practice habits. But, just out of curiosity, I kind of started trying this method with some mallet passages for orchestra, and then with my students at school for those sections that are always a struggle…and it works so much better!! Thanks for the video, Rob!

[tatesherman]

Food for thought. I’m a (bad) percussionist who has found himself preparing marimba etudes while applying for Jazz Performance on drum set. I’ll try this out as I’m re-learning my pieces for auditions after a hiatus since pre screenings were due.

[DennisJohnsonDrummer]

Always interested in hearing how others think about things as they practice and how
that thought process produces consistent positive results. As teachers we know that
what works with one student may or may not work with another student. I think it's
all about unlocking what works in each specific case. Having a well thought out plan
with options gives us tools with which to help a wide range of students. This is an
interesting plan and may go against what many teach concerning slow practice but
I see how it would make sense with more advanced students. Thanks for sharing.

[tylerbrown]

Literally slow practicing in a practice room rn. Gonna try this

[maxwellhanks]

I'm finding this quite useful, I'm currently learning White Knuckle Stroll for an audition piece for a Conservatorium, lots of difficult runs and hopefully these methods can help me learn it better.

[pretty.groovy]

i have a double bass concerto to learn sooo... let's go!

[felipebritomusic]

You are one of my heroes brother! People that are not practicing like this, are just wasting time and suffering a lot. Slow practice is definitely good for endurance, but if you never practice in real tempo, you will not geothermal feeling of the real version.

[seangartner]

This is great stuff, Rob!! I actually do this already and it does wonders!! I never really labeled it, but I love your recognized process!! This was awesome!! ☺️

[jeremyhandmusic]

This video is liquid gold- I can't wait to try this out. Thanks, Rob! 💙

[Sasha-tmqy]

Thank you for the tips. I'm studying a lot right now because I'd like to enter music school in 2 years. It's so stressful and I don't want to waste any second 😂

[brendakhoo]

this was amazing to have always been taught to use slow practice but clearly you demonstrate there is more than one way to learn well!!!

[leor.labarge]

Thanks Rob!! This lines up nicely with George Marsh's "Inner Drumming" even though the approachs are almost diametrically opposite. I'm going to use George's approach on excerpts. I've also been learning patterns fro the end to the beginning for a long time.

[mikegillespiemusic]

Great stuff as always Rob! Super helpful. been passing your YouTube vids along to my students as well

[ItsNotAXylophone]

Amazing. You’ve articulated something I haven’t been able to do! This helps a lot! Thanks bud!

[LBD-]

There is a video of me playing my first scale on Marimba on my channel!

[Frodohotep]

I have probably learned more about practicing from Audition Hacker videos than in the entirety of my undergrad percussion program. Those days, and the 30 years since, would have been so much easier (and I’d be so much better) if I’d known how to practice more effectively then.

[Sasha-tmqy]

I'm going to use that technique to learn the marimba concertino of paul Creston. That's the hardest piece I've ever laid my hands on