Use music practice software
to help speed your progress

Music software is released on a frequent basis and while there aren't many specific music practice software programs there are many others to support and enhance your practice. The main thing to remember when using any music software to support your practice is that it is you who is doing the practice - not the music software! You need to be sure the software you are using for music practice is making your instrumental practice more effective and efficient. For instance, Guitar Hero is a lot of fun, and it may even enhance your timing and hand-eye coordination... but it isn´t music practice software and it won't improve your real guitar playing! Having said that, I have seen some people playing Guitar Hero who don't play guitar... but if they spent as much time playing guitar as guitar hero they would be AMAZING!

Recording for evaluation

Recording yourself playing and listening back to it while following the score is an excellent way to evaluate what needs to be practiced. When we are playing we are often concentrating so hard on getting the note, timing, articulation, dynamics and tempo right we forget the most important thing... to listen to how we sound!

I often use my mobile phone for making a quick recording of my playing. I get instant (if not great quality) feedback and it is quick and easy to set up. Using audio recording on your computer or a stand alone device is a good alternative if you need something of higher quality, especially if you are recording yourself to evaluate your performance just before a concert or exam. Click here more information on audio recording software you can use for practice on the Mac and PC

Back me up

One of the problems of practicing if you are a soloist and don't have a band, orchestra or accompanist to rehearse with, or if you play any form of jazz, rock or pop music is practicing on your own, especially when it comes to improvisation. Improvisation improves with practice (of course!) and it can be very beneficial to improvise with no band behind you as it forces you to make sure your melody follows the chord structure... but it is a lot more fun to have a band behind you! One answer is to buy the 'minus one' backing tracks CDs. There are some excellent quality recordings out there, especially the classical orchestral accompaniments. The trouble is you often have to buy a whole CD for just one track.Click here for more advice and recommendations when buying a Minus One CD.

Having a band on your computer or keyboard to back you up is another answer. There are three ways to do this.

• Use keyboard with backing tracks and play along with a recording of the track
  
• search the internet for MIDI files and use software to mute the track you are playing
  
• use Band In A Box PC or Band In A Box Mac software. Although Band In A Box is advertised as a composition program, not music practice software, I have yet to find a better way to practice jazz on my own!

All three methods have their pros and cons. Click here for more advice on using backing tracks in your practice

Slow it down