Practice Journal / Logbook

[swade88]

I would like to emphasize theory in my playing vice tinkering on my keyboard by ear (permanently)!

I plan to learn my scales and chords in each scale according to the recommendations of many on the LGM site.

Does anyone have a suggestion or arrangement, or a template for a practice journal to monitor progress such as:

scales
chords
progressions
etc....

I would like to document my progress in an efficient manner!

From my reference point, music is quite technical and I want to be mentally prepared to carefully monitor my development vice having too much data documented in a disorderly fashion that may lead to clutter and discouragement.

Thanks

As always, I appreciate the help of all of you musicians who continue to contribute to my music "toolbox"-- you are all professional in my book!

Time for me to go to the music "tool shed" to get busy on this journey!

[swade88]

Am I to understand that nobody documents their progress when practicing???

I would have thought that other beginners document their progress.

I would not expect "seasoned" musicians to do so or those who are very comfortable in their routines!

[diverse379]

Everybody is different
some are very analytical and systematic like your self and others just do

so dont think you are alone

first I want to let you know you have good aspirations
but you must never neglect the ear

I will try to put something together for you to begin with

Scales major minor harmonic and jazz melodic pentatonic blues whole tone

harmony Basic chords
major9  minor 9  dominant 9  half diminished diminished 7
progressions practice

rhythyms
quarter note   eighth notes  sixteenth notes  triplets 

technique/ stylistic ideas
ear training

repoirtore

your practice should balance these elements

a schedule like the following may be helpful

books you should have
good jazz chord book
jazz piano by mark levine  for chords and scale fingering and theory
stylistic Etudes by john novello


schedule
mon
practice scales with a metronome at 40 bpm you can practice with a drum machine too
after you play your scales in every key you should practice playing two notes then backing up one note then play two more then back up two

or play three back up three
or play three back up two
play with it


Choose one scale a week and learn the fingering in every key first right hand by itself then left by itself then together

you should spend at least 20 minutes on scales

harmony
play your triads in every inversion in every key
minor major augmented diminished suspended     20 minutes

play your voicings from your chord book chromatically 20 minutes
you should select a voicing from eadh category

the next week play them around the cycle of fifths

progression
diatonic scale
2-5-1 3-6-2-5-1-
5-1
4-1
7-3-6-2-5-1
7-3-6

4-7-3-5

these should be played with some type of tempo play with a drum machine

you should be able to play these in every key

rhythym practice with a good drum book and
learn how to play poly rhythyms with your hands

mixing qaurter notes in your left against eithgts or triplets or 16th notes in your right using either basslines or chords

a good bok is syncopation by Stone

next is ear training get a good radio station that plays the kind of music you want to learn and imagine you are a keyboard player in the band and start playing along
in the beginning you may not be able to do musch but play part of the bass line or some of the melody but you just keep on doing it eventurally you will be able to catch more and more

repoirtore you should be trying to learn a new song each week
use books cd's instrucctional tapes whatever

always learn songs that you can get a recording of so you can keep your timing on point

it is best to play simple and on time then complicaated and not in time

What I gave you is pretty comprehensive take it in small clumps

dont over do it maybve you will do three exercises one day and the other three the other

but as much as you learn theory train your ear they both are equally important.