Don't say it! It's right on the tip of your tongue, isn't it? I should have P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D today. Hmm...
How many times as players do we feel guilty about what and how we practice? Each day there just aren't enough hours. Even with the best of intentions, things just get in the way. Things like eating, sleeping, socialising...
What is the right amount to do, anyway? Is there a magic number, or do we persevere until it is done? Can we do too much?
1. Never practise when you are tired of listening.
If you have not got the concentration to listen carefully to how you are playing, then there will be minimal progress and quite a lot of frustration.
2. Focus.
I once flatted with a musician who used to sit with the computer beside her and Facebook open. Every notification which came through had to be looked at - in case she missed something! Likewise distractions such as other people and TVs are equally as disruptive.
3. No one should ever want to listen to you practise.
It should be so focused on the minute details, that anyone listening in will get bored with the tedium and repetition. Think of those open strings you do for the first five minutes...you can hear the subtleties, but many others can't and won't.
4. Playing is not practising.
If you just run through your pieces without pulling something apart, it is not practising. You may have a run through at the end of a practice session, but to just play is a waste of time. What makes this time you play, different to the last?
5. Set yourself challenges.
For some people it is to complete a section, others it is to correct a shift or bowing pattern. It is important to have a destination. You will not learn an entire piece with one practice, so make your goals attainable. The 10 times right game (see games) is a great way to accomplish a difficult passage, but it may not be the only focus.
Break things down to become achievable. If a passage is too big and complex, take it in smaller steps. A bar, half a bar is sometimes all that is required for that day.
6. Listen.
Listen to recordings, listen to yourself. Also listen to your teacher.
Your ears are valuable in recording information and helping you progress. Close your eyes and truly hear what your playing sounds like. If you are not in the 'playing mood', sometimes starfishing (lying on the floor with eyes closed and music up) is enough to inspire the player in you. However if you are too tired to listen, stop.
7. Review.
This applies to work you have done in previous practice sessions too. Sometimes it takes a week for you to play a passage exactly as you wish. There are pieces you play which take years to play as you imagine. Keep going! We're all the same here.
Review your older pieces. This is a Suzuki concept, however it applies to everything. If you can maintain a repertoire of pieces, you will enjoy practising a lot more. You may wish to start with something familiar and enjoyable in your practice session before tackling something more challenging. Each time you play a piece, you are playing it afresh. No two times are exactly the same. This is why live performance is so fascinating and enjoyable.
8. Technique is important.
From posture to scales and studies, there are technical aspects to playing that make you play better than you did before. If you are tired and start to slouch, it affects your playing. If you only play your scales on a Monday and forget them to play them the rest of the week, chances are they will not be so forgiving.
9. Reward yourself.
In the practice room we tend to be harsh critics (or our parents are). We have to acknowledge our progress. Sometimes it is external (10 times game, treat at the end of a session) and sometimes it is just a quick virtual pat on the back for a job well done. Each practice should result in an accomplishment.
10. Remember why you play.
For some people a public performance is one of the most enjoyable thing. The post performance high can be exhilarating. For others, it is much more personal. In inner sense of peace. Whatever it is, make sure you never lose it....at least, not for long!
