Maybe you practiced this summer but now the routine is starting and your time is more limited. So how can you accomplish your musical goals this fall?
Schedule Practice
You would never expect to participate in a dance recital without attending rehearsals right? When you’re playing a solo instrument, you have to be more intentional because you don’t have a group rehearsal time keeping you accountable.
The more you plan ahead, the more you will keep that scheduled time. First, determine how much time you will dedicate. 20 minutes? 15 minutes? 10 Minutes? Then, pick 4-5 days that would be ideal. Finally, follow it through. You may not be perfect at first, so give yourself grace and keep at it.
Be Efficient
One of my teachers told me, “You would be amazed at what I can get done in 10 minutes!” If you don’t have a lot of time, that’s okay. Make the most of small doses of practice by budgeting your practice time.
For instance, if you have 15 minutes then spend 5 minutes on technique, 5 minutes on sight-reading and 5 minutes on your performance piece. Dividing your practice session up will ensure you’re using every minute wisely while keeping your energy up throughout.
Reward Yourself
Decide on your personal goals and write them down. How happy you will feel when you reach that goal? If you have children that are taking lessons and can’t understand the long-term benefits of learning music, provide them incentives for completing their practice times.
Remember, the best incentives are ones that create more curiosity and appreciation in music. For instance, I suggested to a family that if their children kept their practice schedule for a month, they would take them to attend a concert. It ended up becoming a regular family outing for them and they were exposed to all kinds of music while supporting local arts.
So what are you waiting for? Get to it!
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