Practice Smarter Not Harder

Everybody is under intense time pressure these days, and musicians are no exception. Here are some tips that can help you make the most of your practice time!

⦁ Get organized by Prioritizing!

Which pieces do you have to work on most? Teachers can write plans for students so that they know exactly what to focus on at home.

⦁ Focus on one task at a time.

Discipline yourself to complete each practice goal before moving on to the next. In the long run, you’ll save enormous time by completing one pieces at a time. 

⦁ Warm up first!

Properly warmed-up hands will allow you to accomplish the physical tasks demanded by difficult repertoire with great ease and with fewer errors. I find that Scales and Arpeggios make for the best warm-up.

⦁ Are you distracted?

Only practice with full concentration! Five minutes of concentrated practice is far more valuable than five hours of moving your fingers while your mind wanders.

⦁ Practice SLOWLY!

It is a known psycho-physiological fact that the brain cannot absorb musical information in detail when playing fast. It is therefore essential to work slowly and carefully at all times.

⦁ Practice only short passages.

The brain absorbs musical information much more readily when it is not overwhelmed by quantity. Each day, practice just one passage, and practice it extremely carefully and thoroughly. This makes for far more efficient piano practice in the long run.

While these efficient piano practice tips themselves take some practice, I’m certain that you’ll experience gains in productivity from the first day you start using them. Happy practicing!

– Angie Kaunang, A.A.M., Piano Instructor