Getting the most out of practice

“It’s not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts, its what you put into the practice”    Eric Lindros (Hockey Player)

As a violin teacher I absolutely love this quote.   Often as teachers we are asked “How long should I practice?”  or “How long should my child be practicing everyday?”   While teachers often have a rule of thumb they would like their students to follow, it is more complicated than that.   It is not just the time spent practicing but what is accomplished during that time that matters the most.

Here are 3 ways to get the most out of your practice time:

1.  ATTENTION:   Find a time of day when your child’s attention level is at it’s best.   For some students this is in the morning before school, for others it is after school, and still others will prefer to practice later in the evening.   Find out what works for your family.   I have learned from experience as a parent, and from many parents of my own students, that practicing right before bed can often be a recipe for disaster.

2.  HAVE A PLAN:  If your teacher doesn’t already help you come up with a detailed plan for practice – ask.  Most teachers are happy to help you break down your practice time and plan out how to use it to be well prepared for your next lesson.  I consider it one of my main jobs as a teacher to teach students how to practice.  Without a plan practicing can be like trying to drive somewhere without a map or GPS system.   Know where you are going and how to get there!

3.   ONCE YOU CAN PLAY IT CORRECTLY THE REAL PRACTICE STARTS:  Often I see students play a practice spot over and over until they get it correct ONCE and then stop.    The problem with this is that the passage has been played many more times incorrectly, than correctly.   I often tell my students “don’t play it until you get it right, play it until you can’t get it wrong.”   If you can make it your goal to play a small section many times without making a mistake then you have made real progress in your practice time.

Try adding these tips to your practice time this week.  Be patient. . . it may take a while to figure out what time of day to practice and to put together a practice plan with your teacher that works well for you.   It is worth the time and effort though!

What helps you and your students get the most out of practice?  I’d love to hear thoughts from parents, teachers and students!

~ Christine