Where, When, and How to Practice

“How good would the band be if it were only as good as me?” 

Every good musician knows the importance of regular practice, but careless practice makes you worse. It’s important to learn how to learn.

What does it mean to practice?

The definition of practice is “to perform or exercise repeatedly in order to acquire or perfect a skill.” But it’s not just mindless repetition. We need goals - ones that are small enough to accomplish in one practice session.

Where to Practice: Find a quiet, well-lit place free from distractions. You and your screens - phone, smart watch, game console, computer, etc. - should be in different rooms. Sit with good posture in a straight-backed chair like we do in class (percussion should stand) and use a music stand so your head remains at the proper angle. Avoid the bed, couch, floor, bathtub, etc.

When to Practice: Every day. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you and your self-confidence improve. Tests seem easy and performing concerts is pure joy. Consistent, goal-oriented practice promotes positive learning and makes playing music fun: 

   Consistent, mindful practice creates successful outcomes

   Successful outcomes result in faster progress

   Faster progress causes increased motivation

   Increased motivation leads to consistent, mindful practice

Skipping days ends in a pledge to “catch up next time” or being overwhelmed trying to learn too much at once. Test days and concerts become moments of anxiety. Inconsistent practice promotes negative learning and takes the fun out of music performance:

   Inconsistent practice creates negative outcomes

   Negative outcomes result in a lack of progress

   A lack of progress causes decreased motivation

   Decreased motivation leads to inconsistent practice

How to Practice: Mindful, goal-oriented practice is much more productive than setting time limits. While 30 minutes a day is typical for success, you can shorten your daily goals on days when you don’t have that much time; and increase your goals on days when you have more time. The key is to do practice something every day.

Setting Practice Goals: We’ll go over this together in another lesson, “Mastery not Minutes.”