What Are We Really Pursuing With Practice?

Once, in a class, a student asked me: “What is this exercise for?” His question stemmed from not being able to discern a direct connection between the exercise and the musical situations he usually encountered. That led me to reflect on several issues.

The primary question was what we aim to achieve through the study of our instrument, particularly in relation to specific exercises. We don’t always see an immediate link between the exercises we practice and the music we typically play. So, what is the ultimate goal? In my view, it boils down to control.

Playing an instrument implies facing new situations on a daily basis. I am not speaking here about diversity of styles, but of expression. I think one of our main goals as artists is to work to have the ability to say what we want. And, also, always be prepared to do it, regardless of the degree of complexity of the idea that we want to express. We should never stay with an idea in mind and not be able to express it.

That is why I think about an infinity of technical exercises, taking into account the expression, the interpretation, and the dynamics. It does not matter that you are a rock musician, it does not mean that you will stop studying jazz or folklore.

Unfortunately, I often witness senseless and futile stylistic competitions. Some musicians believe they are superior to others based on the musical styles they play, considering their preferred style more complex than others. This couldn’t be further from the truth. To master a style, we must first listen to it, understand its history, language, and prominent artists. Above all, we must play it alongside musicians well-versed in that style.

Styles are not learned solely from books; they require exercises that expose us to the control situations unique to each style. This is how most musicians train themselves, by studying different styles. The aim is not to avidly tackle all styles but to attain greater control over our instrument.

Each one, ultimately, seeks to develop their own sound, and achieving this is a task that takes a lifetime. The development of full control over the instrument gives us clarity of message, helps us to express what we want to say. We can know many words, phrases, and languages, but that will not make us bearers of an original speech, however much it may help us in its search.

On the other hand, we can know our ideas, work them and develop them to the point of being completely clear about what we want to say, but that does not imply that we can do it. To express ourselves clearly, we must develop our technique, understood as a means of expression, a tool that helps us decode and transmit a message. The more technical resources we have, the better and easier it will be to make us understand.

Over time and with a deep technical development, we will be able to say what we feel, make our work known, and modify it in whole or in part as we deem pertinent. Ultimately, our journey leads us to discover our unique voice.

Technical knowledge must always be welcomed by the artist. Now, we must know what to do with it and understand where the challenge lies and what is the purpose of incorporating it.

Let’s strive to possess fluent control over all the musical situations we encounter, whether playing with fellow musicians or practicing specific exercises. This will empower us to control and translate the ideas that originate from our creative minds. Greater control over our instrument will then give us a better capacity for expression.