Suzuki School: piano

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

iServalan's approach to learning more than one musical instrument at a time.

The Art of Precision: iServalan’s Approach to Mastering Cello, Piano, Viola, and Bass

For iServalan, music is more than just playing notes—it’s about understanding the intricate details of sound, structure, and movement. As a multi-instrumentalist specializing in cello, piano, and viola, she has developed a meticulous method that allows for deep learning and mastery of each instrument’s unique qualities.

A Method Built on Precision

At the core of iServalan’s approach is the idea that musical perfection begins with a single note. She believes that rushing through a piece without refining its smallest components only leads to surface-level understanding.

Instead, her learning process follows a structured order:

The Single Note – Each note is explored for tone, resonance, and clarity before moving on.

Transitions Between Notes – The movement between notes is just as crucial as the notes themselves, focusing on smoothness and intentionality.

The Overall Sense of the Piece – Only after mastering the foundations does she step back and absorb the piece as a whole.

By following this method, she ensures that learning is not only quicker but also deeper, creating a more intuitive connection to the music.

Breaking Down Complexity

Rather than tackling an entire piece at once, iServalan teaches and practices in small sections. This allows her to focus on challenging passages without feeling overwhelmed, turning difficult compositions into manageable steps. Her slow-speed perfection approach helps refine intonation, bowing (for strings), and finger placement before increasing tempo.

The Role of Musical Fitness

Beyond technique, iServalan prioritizes physical well-being in her playing.

She incorporates Exercises & Scales – Strengthening finger independence and flexibility for better control.

Body Alignment – Ensuring proper posture to avoid strain, especially when playing for long hours.

Musical Fitness – Developing endurance and relaxation techniques to maintain comfort while practicing.

By integrating body awareness into her training, she avoids injury and enhances efficiency, making her sessions more sustainable in the long run.

A Holistic Approach to Mastery

iServalan’s philosophy goes beyond traditional learning. By focusing on the micro-details first, she builds a strong foundation that makes even the most complex compositions feel natural. Her method is proof that true mastery is not about speed, but about depth—one note at a time.

Learning a single instrument is a challenge, but mastering four? That’s an adventure in patience, skill, and dedication. Whether you’re picking up instruments from different families—like piano, guitar, drums, and violin—or focusing on similar ones, the process requires strategy, persistence, and love for music.

Choosing the Instruments

If you’re taking on multiple instruments, it’s important to have a plan. Some people choose instruments that complement each other, like guitar and bass, or violin and viola. Others go for variety—maybe a woodwind, a stringed instrument, a percussion instrument, and a keyboard. The key is finding a balance between your interests and what’s realistic for practice.

Managing Practice Time

One of the biggest hurdles of learning multiple instruments is time management. Here are a few tips to stay consistent:

Rotate Focus – You don’t have to practice all four instruments every day. Instead, dedicate specific days to each or rotate through shorter sessions.
Prioritize Your Goals – Are you learning for fun, for a band, or for professional purposes? This will help determine how much time you devote to each instrument.
Use Cross-Training – Many skills transfer between instruments. Finger dexterity from piano helps with guitar, rhythm from drums improves timing on all instruments, and ear training applies to everything.
Stay Organized – Keep a practice journal to track progress, challenges, and areas that need improvement.
Overcoming Challenges

Muscle Memory and Technique

Switching between instruments can be tricky because each one requires different physical techniques. Developing separate muscle memory for each is crucial, but it also helps to be mindful of posture and hand positioning to avoid injury.

Mental Adaptation

Different instruments require different ways of thinking—reading treble and bass clefs, using different picking techniques, or adjusting embouchure (for wind instruments). Over time, your brain will naturally adapt, but patience is key.

Avoiding Burnout

While learning four instruments is exciting, burnout is real. Take breaks when needed, and make sure to still enjoy playing music rather than just focusing on improvement. Play along with songs you love, improvise, or jam with friends to keep things fun.
The Reward of Multi-Instrumentalism

Despite the challenges, being able to switch between instruments is incredibly rewarding. You gain a deeper understanding of music, become a better composer, and can collaborate with a wider range of musicians. Whether you’re performing, recording, or just playing for yourself, mastering multiple instruments is an enriching experience that keeps creativity flowing.