Whether you’re an absolute beginner or you’ve got years of experience, practice is your key to success. Want to make your practice more fun and effective? Here are five practice tips you can do to practice effectively.
1. Know what you are going to work on
There’s nothing worse than sitting down to practice and not knowing what to do. If you are working with a teacher who gives you guided practice sessions, that can be a huge help. If your teacher isn’t supplying you with a plan, work with a parent or mentor to set a checklist for each practice. This type of preparation can make a huge difference in how quickly you will improve on your instrument.
2. Know how long you are going to practice for
This is really helpful for students of all ages. Younger students might be anxious to know how long they need to practice each day. For older students, it’s helpful to know that even a small amount of focused practice makes a big difference. Whether you are practicing for 15 minutes or an hour, make sure you set a goal before you start. Having fun? You can always add more time.
3. Be consistent
Practicing should become part of your routine like eating breakfast or brushing your teeth. Do you practice at the same time every day? Staggered times throughout the week? Either way is okay, as long as you’re consistent from week-to-week. Make practice time an indispensable part of your life, and you’ll see progress so much faster.
4. Review past lessons
Looking forward to your next challenge is awesome. That kind of ambition will take you far! It’s also important to set aside time review. You can review a piece that you enjoy playing, something that used to be difficult, or maybe an old finger exercise or game. Can you play your review piece as well as you could before? Only one way to find out!
5. Keep Going
This might be the most important practice tip I can give you: don’t give up. If you fall behind or miss a week of practice – it’s okay! Developing a routine supported by a successful practice schedule takes time. The occasional busy week or vacation doesn’t have to derail your progress as a piano player. If you miss a day or a week, recommit to your routine and work to get back into the swing of things.
Ready to take your practice to the next level? Hoffman Academy Premium members enjoy guided practice sessions for each lesson!