Have fun practicing!

When it comes to practicing, quality over quantity matters. 20 minutes of focused practicing is more beneficial than 20 hours of mindless practicing. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of your time:

• Set goals: Have in mind a set of goals that you want to accomplish. The more specific, the better! For example:

"Today I want to play with my wrist straight."

or

"Now I need to make sure my fingers stay curved."

• Take breaks: After accomplishing a goal, stretch or drink some water. When you come back, your mind will be refreshed and ready to practice again.
• Play mini games:
  • Practice Tower: Every time you play a section well, stack a Lego block. See how high you can make your tower!
  • Funny Poses: Can you play the song standing on one foot? Sitting cross-legged? Spinning (slowly) in a circle?
  • Take a mental picture: Play one measure looking at the music notes. Now close your eyes--can you still play the same melody?
  • Backwards Challenge: Can you play the song backwards?
  • Invent your own practice game!

• Be consistent: It's better to practice 20 minutes every day than cram 1 hour once a week. Your brain will retain what you've worked on much more this way.

• Think positively: Thinking negative thoughts will only distract you from your goals. Working with a positive attitude is a key factor for success!
• Practice with a friend--it's a lot of fun!
• Practice performing--play for your:
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Neighbors
  • Pets (some might even sing along!)
  • Stuffed animals

A note to the parents:

It is ideal to practice at least 10-15 minutes everyday, but I know that isn't practical for most schedules. Here are some tips!

• Split your child's practice time: Spend 3 minutes playing one song before dinner and maybe another 3 minutes right after finishing homework.
• Set a practice space: Designate a spot at home where your child can always go to practice.
• Leave the instrument (somewhere safe) out of its case. The kids will be more likely to play if they have easy access to it. However, this probably won't be a good idea if your household has very young kids or large pets.
• Check in while your child is practicing. Ask him/her what are his/her practice goals are, or what his/her favorite part of the song is. If you have a bit of time, ask him/her to teach you how to play the song!
• Schedule practicing as part of your weekly routine. For example: practice time is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4:30 pm.
• Watch the practice videos on my website and/or Google Classroom. You can also search our concert songs on YouTube.

All of these tips can be applied to anything you want to do in life, whether it be studying for a test or training for a sports team.