Stuck in a rut with your practicing routine?
Perhaps it's fallen out of routine altogether?
Here are a couple of things you can try:
1. Decide on a time each day that will be YOUR PRACTICE TIME!
Why?
Remember back in school when you would learn all kinds of things during the day? It didn't happen on accident... At the very least, you showed up, right? You had an established time that you needed to be at school, and then you learned all of the things! Granted, it's harder as an adult because when I have to hand out "consequences" to myself, it often turns into a bitter hindsight... Ex. Had I started working out diligently when I was 25, I might have a legendary figure now that I'm 30... You might have to deal yourself a slice of humble pie and put on your realist hat... If you put in 30 minutes a day of intentional and diligent practice for the next 6 months, I promise you that you'll be a better player in 6 months! It's a journey, remember?
2. Decide that you're going to practice each day (any time during the day), and set a 30 minute timer -and make it happen!
Why?
I grew up practicing with an old egg timer (which I referred to as "the ding-er"). I'd set it for 30 minutes and reluctantly go through my assignments (Lesson, Theory, and Technic books). Once the ding-er went off, I knew that my practice time was done. It also helped that my mum would regularly remind me from the other room "I don't hear anything!"... that was my cue that I'd been silent for too long.
The key to success in most things in you'll ever try (not just music) is: consistency.
If you read that here first, I'm honored! ;-)
If you want to learn how to play an instrument, setting aside the time and making it happen each day is how to do it. It's not what you play or how well you play it -it's getting that 30 minutes in everyday. Efficiency and productivity during your rehearsals will come in time, but a world of difference will happen when you make daily time to focus on the instrument.
What does your practice regimen look like? Send me a message or leave me a comment! I always love hearing from you!
Until next time,
-T.