Getting Practice Started

The hardest part of starting practice is getting the instrument out and getting started.  I have heard many professional musicians agree with this statement & it is certainly true for me.  I love playing violin and viola, but I don’t always like stopping something else to get started.   For me, it is a lot like exercise.   Usually, once I’ve started, it feels great and I always feel great once I’m done – but getting changed and out the door for a run can sometimes get in the way.

The first thing to know is that if you, or your child, are having trouble getting started this is totally normal!  Here are a few tips for making the start to practice go smoothly:

1.  Keep the instrument where you can see it:

The great thing about playing piano is having the instrument right out in the open.  You can walk by it, sit down and play a bit without any hassle.   Violinists have to get out a case, tighten and rosin the bow, put on the shoulder rest and on and on.   If you keep the violin set up and on a shelf where it can’t fall or be bumped into (or gotten down without assistance for very young students) it is easy to walk by, see the violin and pick it up play.   This simple solution has really helped some of my students to get started on their practice when it has been a battle.

2.  Have a routine for the start of practice:

The younger the student, the more important this one is, but anyone can benefit from it.  When there is a set routine around practice we all tend to resist it less.  If I know I practice first thing in the morning and I follow through, doing it daily, it will become second nature to head into the practice room.  Find a time that you can stick to daily or piggyback practice with some other activity.  If your child comes to expect that every night right after dinner it is time to practice, they will come to expect it and there will be less resistance.  Much like brushing teeth, if you do something everyday it becomes less of a chore that happens once in a while and more like an expected part of the daily routine.   Try to avoid suddenly announcing that it is time to practice without warning – that is sure to meet resistance.

3.  Have a reward for when practice has been finished:

You can have a small reward for daily practice, so many practices each week, or a long-term goal.  You know yourself (or your child) and can find with a little trial and error what works for you.   For adults and older students you may have a favorite tv show, websites you like to visit for fun, or a book to read.  Settling in to do something relaxing can be a great reward.  For young students, this can be something as simple as one-on-one attention doing something like playing a game or reading a book once practice is over.  In some families dessert happens at night only when practice  is done, or TV watching is off-limits until practice time is over.   You will have to figure out what works with your family or for yourself.

The benefits of learning a musical instrument are many – but most of them come from the daily practice time we spend – not from the once a week lesson.   How do you motivate yourself to get started practicing?  How do you motivate your child?