When I start honing for the first time....

do you guys have any suggestions for something to do to practice honing? I know that the pyramid is recommended for honing a razor, but I have a razor that I'm going to 'practice' on and I am trying to figure out the best way to start out learning.

I figure I would like to mess around with different honing techniques, straight forward, X, heel forward straight, heel forward X, circle etc......

the blade I use isn't necessarily one i am going to keep so I can hone it and hone it and work it to a nub if needed just to work on my technique. should I just hone it over and over to get the movement down?

Keep the blade flat and don't move your wrist. Just practice the stroke and the flip. Little pressure in the beginning, no pressure towards the end. Come up with some workable tests for sharpness that you like. Shave the cheeks to test your progress. Have fun, lots to learn.