Michael Gustorff teaching in Korea

If you don't know what to practice, this little plan might help. The idea is to continue where you ended up the last time you studied. For example: let's say you ended up after half an hour of practicing with number 2 (learning a tune), then continue with number 3 (working on a tune). Sometimes you won't be able to do more than one thing a day, so go on with the next item the next day. Sometimes you will have a lot of time and you might manage 1,2,3,4,5,1,2,3 on one single day or concentrate on just one of the subjects for a longer time.

If your intuition tells you to change your way of studying, change it!

Jazz Violin Practice Plan:

1. technique: could be
   • classic piece
   • chord arpeggios
   • scales........
   • whatever you think you should practice to improve your technique
2. learning a tune:
   • on the piano
   • checking the chords of the recording
   • on the violin, like root solos, bass lines, triad solos, basic chord solos
3. working on a tune:
   • transcriptions
   • studying the best patterns and rhythmic ideas of the transcription
   • other exercises, like solos with motives, theme orientated solos
   • just play
4. sight reading: could be
   • 'Reading Key Jazz Rhythms' by Fred Lipsius
   • Any big band scores
5. any special subject you like to focus on, like:
   • playing fast
   • playing with special rhythmic ideas, like rests, only eight notes, only triplets, only double time, cross rhythms....
   • playing in difficult keys
   • playing in high positions
   • studying the Gustorff lick system