Introduction:
Jannessa: I’ll start off by saying that I still struggle with establishing good practice habits, so I know how hard it can be to develop a consistent routine. We’re all busy—with school, extracurriculars, family, etc.— so adding practicing to that list can be overwhelming. If you feel like you don’t have time or motivation to practice or if you’re already practicing every day, this post will offer advice that I’ve learned as well as specific techniques you can use.
Jarilyn: Similar to Jannessa, I also found it difficult to keep a good practice routine. It took me a while until I was able to incorporate some of these habits into my routine. We hope these tips and pieces of advice can help those who find themselves in the same place.
Practice Tips
General Advice
- Just Do It
On days when I really don’t feel like practicing, something that helped me was getting it done as soon as possible. I found that the longer I pushed it off, the less likely it was that I would practice. Once you do this consistently, it becomes a routine or habit which makes it easier to practice every day.
- A little every day is better than a lot a few times a week
Practicing doesn’t have to be a dedicated hour or two to go through scales, etudes, exercises, and whatever piece you’re working on. It can be 15 minutes of scales and a little bit of your piece. Breaking it down and doing a little every day makes practicing less daunting and is better than doing it for a longer period of time for fewer times a week.
- Make a practice chart
You may already be doing this, but keeping a practice chart can serve as a visual reminder of how often you are practicing. It can be motivating to see that you’ve kept up a two-week streak or that you haven’t practiced at all that week. Placing this practice chart in a visible place will keep it at the front of your mind.
- Engage with classical music outside of CMW
Once I developed an appreciation for classical music and music-making, I was more excited to play my instrument. Personally, I love watching TwoSetViolin. TwoSetViolin is a duo on Youtube that strives to make classical music accessible and more popular. They make entertaining videos about being a musician and encourage practicing.
Joining the band, orchestra, or string ensemble at your school is another way to be involved, and by doing that, you can make more musician friends! Another fun way to spend time is to go to concerts or watch other string musicians perform, live or online. This is the best way to see the culmination of hours of hard practice pay off.
- Make a goal and have specific action steps
Whenever I work on a new piece, I like to set a goal that I want to achieve. It can be a small goal that you want to accomplish by the end of your practice or by the end of the week. This helps me to keep myself motivated while staying focused.
- Have a schedule/routine
Keeping a consistent routine can benefit your playing progress. By creating a practice log or journal, you can remind yourself to practice for at least 15-30 minutes. Tip #3 has a good explanation on how to create a practice chart. I like to keep a digital journal on my iPad and set scheduled reminders on my phone. A few apps that I use are Notion, Notability, and Glass Paper.
- Create a space where you can practice and have distractions set aside
Having a place where you can be “in tune” with your instrument is key when it comes to practicing. It can be in your room or another place in your house. The overall idea is to have a nice atmosphere where you can concentrate on your music. In my house, I like to practice in my room because it’s quieter than the other rooms. On the other hand, my brother likes to practice in the living room because he enjoys having other sounds going on in the background. It all depends on you and the kind of space you feel is right for you!
- Make sure to give yourself a break
Giving yourself a break is essential. When I work on a piece and find myself struggling on one part, I tend to get frustrated and repeatedly work on it until it sounds better. By giving yourself breaks, you are making sure that you are in the right state of mind. Remember to have fun and remind yourself how far you‘ve come!
- Give yourself encouragement
Encouragement is the best reward one can give themselves. This benefits you throughout your practice and motivates you to continue doing the best you can. One of the teachers at CMW taught me that one way you can give yourself encouragement is by writing small notes and keeping them inside your instrument case to remind you every time you open it.
- Have a practice buddy (keep each other accountable)
Have you ever heard of a workout buddy? A workout buddy is someone you can depend on to hold you accountable to exercise consistently. A practice buddy can do the same thing. You can check in with each other and motivate each other to practice regularly. You could set a time when you know you’ll both be practicing, or even play together. In the end, both of you are benefitting!
Techniques
- Listen to recordings
Whenever I start a new piece, I always listen to a recording of it. This way, I have an idea of how it sounds and how other musicians have interpreted the piece, which translates into their technique and musicality.
- Repetition
Repeat chunks of music that you’re having trouble with five to ten times. If you mess up, start over and try again until you can repeat it correctly consecutively.
- Rhythms for difficult passages
Rhythms are especially helpful for difficult passages with lots of notes, like sixteenth notes. Practice these passages by placing emphasis on a different note. Here are some different ways to do it:
Long-short-long-short (emphasis on every other note)
Short-long-short-long (emphasis on every other note)
Long-short-short-short (emphasis on the first note)
Short-long-short-short (emphasis on the second note)
Short-short-long-short (emphasis on the third note)
Short-short-short-long (emphasis on the last note)
- Warm up with scales
I believe that warming up with scales is important before working on a particular piece. You are preparing yourself by getting your muscles moving. Warm up with scales that your teacher assigns you or is similar to the piece you are working on—my favorite scale is D major!
- Practice music in sections
When working on music, it can be beneficial to practice in sections so you can focus on one thing at a time. You can divide your practicing into warming up, working on techniques, playing through the piece a few times, working on the hard parts, etc.
Last but not least, your teacher is a great resource who can give personalized tips for you and the piece you’re working on. Be sure to communicate with them to help you find what’s best for you. Although shortcuts are convenient, nothing can replace consistent practice. Not only will you get better at your instrument by honing your craft, but you will also build discipline and responsibility. Now that you’re armed with all these great tips and techniques, go practice!
