Finding Time to Practise

Published: Sep 2, 2022  |   Category: Practice Aid


     There are so many students with the will to learn and the talent to play the piano extremely well, and yet they can’t find enough time for regular practice. Sometimes, we need to find creative ways to find time for regular practice to gain more confidence, fluency, and success.  As we turn a new leaf into our new Fall term, it’s a great time to set goals: look at your calendars and mark out a regular practice schedule – for a minimum of 5 days a week. 

Having trouble finding time? Try a few of these tips:
  1. Become an early bird.  Practice before you leave for work or school. Work on the high-priority items first.   True, it can be a challenging process if you need to wake up earlier, but once you do it and just get started, the rest is easy, and you will be content the rest of the day knowing you have already checked off some of your piano assignments. It might help to prepare the night before by having your music prepared to go on the piano for the morning session.
  1. Lunch break: some students manage to practice at school or during free periods. This sometimes works for people who work at home or university students who may be able to find a piano on campus. Take your lunch buddies to listen to your performances and practices!
  1. Rely on Loved Ones: friends, teaching assistants, or family can help. Sometimes planning to play for a friend, scheduling some coaching with an assistant, or family that can maybe take over some chores or other duties are ways to allow you to find time to practice. As I’ve mentioned in another blog post, “Who is Responsible for Successful Musical Progress,” having a supportive family is important in the learning process. Having someone who cheers you on, acknowledges that this time is important to you, and who helps you to prioritize your practice, especially on those days when you don’t really feel like practicing, can be the best support. We also have several student teachers in our studio who are available, for those who may wish for a friendly practice session, similar to sports training and one-on-one with a coach. Perhaps you want to challenge a friend who is also learning piano, or challenge someone to complete their own personal goal in tandem with your practice goals?  It’s important to know that you are supported, so lean on your support team to help you carve out some important time  -- sometimes we find time to ourselves that we didn’t even know we had.
  1. Move the piano – some students have moved their uprights into their bedrooms, so they can be undisturbed and practice more. In other situations, consider putting a screen around the piano, or moving it away from a busy area.  Your piano space should be an area that is comfortable for you to focus on your practice.
  1.  Break it up – shorter practice sessions, say even 15 minutes here and there throughout the day can do wonders! Take a break between sessions if you have a long stretch. The point is to stay consistent and complete your weekly assignments as best you can.  There will be good days and what seems like bad days of practice, but in the end, it’s all good! What's important is persistence. This is the greatest factor in success! Remember, too, to focus on small steps and check your homework assignments to help keep you on track towards the bigger, long-term goals.  Finding creative ways to fit in practice can be a lot of fun and you may surprise yourself with a new way!
  1. Get serious about scheduling – consider using an App to plan your calendar. As most of you know, I frequently participate in running, cycling, and triathlon events for fitness, and fun, and as a way to raise thousands of dollars for local charities. How do I manage to train with a busy life/work schedule? Careful planning and consistency. Recently, I tried a few apps that many of my fitness friends use to plan out training around work and family -- I’ve used these to plan out my full and changing work schedule, fitness training, and to prioritize my own piano practice! 
 
            For example, a team from Ukraine has developed a Task Management Tool - MyLifeOrganized -          https://www.mylifeorganized.net/
            There’s also a personal timesheet that lets you track your work/life balance at - http://www.komorian.com/eternity.html
 
  1. Find Creative Ways to Fit in Practice
            If you are really struggling with your practice schedule, sometimes you must get creative. Practice at a relative’s home, any piano that you come across, ask your music teacher if you can use the music room; record your practice and send                it to a friend or relative, or play for them live. Take advantage of every opportunity to play the piano.
 
Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and finding time for regular practice is always worthwhile, regardless of your ultimate goals. This is your time!
 

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