Practice Trick

It's hard for new students to create a good practice habit. Especially for the first few weeks, when everything seems so very easy and you feel like just a quick review before your lessons will be enough. Seasoned students sometimes let their established habits slide a little and before you know it you're only practicing one or two days a week!

It's time to get ourselves on track so we can all get the most out of piano lessons.

I want you to take a minute and write down your general schedule for each day. For example:

7:00 am: Wake up, dress
7:15 am: Eat Breakfast
7:45 am: Leave for school
3:15 pm: Home from school, eat a snack
3:30 pm: Do Homework
5:30 pm: some days have dance class
6:30 pm: eat dinner
9:00 pm: go to bed

You schedule is probably different from my example, but you get the idea. You're making a map of your usual day.

Now, take a good look at that schedule and see where you can find about 20 minutes of consistently free or flexible time. How about right before dinner? Maybe right after breakfast and before you leave for school? Whatever time you choose, make sure you will have that time free most days. From now on, this will be your practice time.

I understand that sometimes our days don't go the way we plan and we just can't find those few moments to practice. But if you make the effort to find time in your schedule, I'll bet you'll practice at least 5 days a week! (Don't forget, you don't have to stop after 20 minutes if you have more time. The more you move those fingers across the keys, the stronger your muscles will be!)

Now, stop reading my music blog and go practice! See you next time.