Have you ever found times when you struggled to find time to practice? It’s almost as if there aren’t enough hours in a day to allow for productive practice with your instrument as we experience problems of overcommitment, fatigue, and lack of motivation. While in an ideal world, we want to have endless hours a day to practice achieving a high level of musicianship, we must make the most of the hours that are given us. A lot of the time, we are under the impression that we must just keep repeating the same passage repeatedly until we get it right. While repetition is very useful, unless you understand what the problem is, this continuous repetition is unproductive and can lead to injuries like tendinitis. Here are a couple of things to be tips to be mindful of when you practice:
In this next part, I will discuss different things to consider when developing your own practice plan. What are your goals with the instrument? What do you want to do with music? These are all questions that I ask my students when I first start working with them. Typically, this is the type of plan that I provide for them and adjust it according to their needs and time available to practice.
Now, considering these different elements in a practice routine, you may not be able to incorporate all these aspects. That’s completely okay. For example, if you’re having issues with a technical aspect of your instrument, choose mechanism exercises or etudes that help address that problem. If you can’t do all the scale patterns assigned to you, spread them out throughout the course of the week. Not enough time for the etude? Break it into sections that allow you to feel confident about your playing. Are you preparing for an audition, and you need to practice your piece? You might need to spend less time in one of the other categories to incorporate it into your daily practice. Be flexible with yourself and know that you can always adapt your schedule to your needs at that moment. If you're seeking guidance in structuring your practice routine or exploring more opportunities for musical growth, we're here to help. Schedule a free consultation with us today and let's embark on this musical journey together!
1 Comment
Darwin Dyce
3/3/2023 05:23:34 am
I heard you play in Marshall MN this week. Truly beautiful. I really like your tips on practicing. I was formally trained on trumpet and damaged my lip from using too much pressure but have been playing flute (self taught) for years and now it is time for lessons from a member of the SWMN Orchestra. I'm retired and love playing jazz styled music but know I would benefit from scales and classical style where I can't hide my lack of technique. Thank you for all you do to encourage the development of young and older musicians.
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