3 Ways to Start and Sustain a Daily Practice Regimen
Master your Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart pieces by maximizing your practice time
The Problem
Practice can seem like an overwhelming experience. And the notion of committing to a daily regimen is downright daunting.
The Solution
Take a deep breath. Relax. By mastering a few organizational skills, you can develop an effective practice regimen with results that will make you a better string player.
1. Create the Right Environment for Practice
Your practice environment sets the stage for your practice success. A simple, quiet space with no distractions is perfect for some students, but others might feel like they are being sent to their rooms for punishment. Growing up, I practiced best in the living room with my violin and stand set up near the piano. The comings and goings of family members made me feel as though I was still a part of things. As the duration of my practice grew, I eventually created a space in my bedroom with my pet birds to keep me company. If you are a communal space practicer, you will probably need to compromise with family members. These days I practice in my living room when home alone and in my home office the rest of the time.
But choose a practice spot with good light and a pleasant view. You won’t feel like practicing if your practice space is uninspiring or your instrument is packed away in a closet or behind a couch. Create a safe place where your instrument can be ready to go, either resting in its open case on a shelf or table, hanging from the wall on an instrument hanger, or sitting on an instrument stand. Keep everything you need for practicing close at hand, including your rosin, stand, music, and a pencil.
Still finding it hard to get started? Take the pressure off by chunking your time. Set a timer for five minutes each day, focus on a single issue or piece, and play until the timer goes off. If you want to keep practicing, set the timer for another five minutes and address a different issue or piece. Stop practicing when you find your focus waning, no matter how long or short your practice has been. Five minutes of focused practice can be more effective than an hour of clock watching, plus you’ll be more likely to return to practicing frequently.
Here’s another tip: practice for a few chunks of focused time and later in the day return for a review of the same material. This maximizes your effective practice time and gives you a review of the techniques and pieces you’ve worked on while they are still fresh in your memory.
This article, "3 Ways to Start and Sustain a Daily Practice Regimen," is part of the Strings Archive, which you can access with a paid site subscription.
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