How do I Practice ? (A Note to My Middle School Self)

I’ve learned a lot about practice since my middle school days when I was just started to practice totally on my own. I don’t remember anyone giving me any steps to do it successfully. Everyone assumed I’d been practicing with an adult since before I was three so I probably had some idea of what I was doing.

I didn’t have any clue.

And as I have a large crew of students entering this age and about to start this stage of practicing independently I am realizing I need to operate from the assumption that they are going to feel the same.

Lately, I have been thinking of what I wish I had know when I was just starting to practice on my own so that I can share it with my students and actually coach them through the process.

Here is the list I have started to make:

1. Getting your instrument out and starting will be hard. It’s hard for everyone not just you!

 

2. Your main job is to take something the teacher assigned and do what you can to make it a little easier everyday.

 

3. You need to have a plan or you will waste time. Get out the notes from your lesson and follow them.

4. Some days it will feel like nothing improved. Looking back over a week, or month, you will be able to see progress.

 

5. Just do something, every day possible.

 

6. Listening to your music and following along with the sheet music counts as practice. It actually helps a lot.

 

7. Playing through from the beginning to the end is not actually practicing – break things down into little pieces and repeat it until it gets easier.

 

8. If you have no idea what needs improving video yourself and watch it back. You will probably see things you didn’t know that need work.

 

9. Include something you love playing in every practice you can. Practicing is just plain work but you can reward yourself for doing it by just playing something that makes you happy and that makes the hard work worth it.

 

10. What are you practicing FOR? Your next lesson? An upcoming recital? To play for your grandma over Facetime? If you can’t think of anything that motivates you, you need to create something to practice for. That is what will keep you motivated.

 

This is just the start of my thoughts on this topic . . . what would you add?