Practice Makes Perfect

Never underestimate the importance of Practice. Good practicing of your musical instrument, for enough time and in the right way, is one of the most significant ways to become excellent at playing music.

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From the first days of practice, you need to be aware of what good practising is in order to succeed.

Once you’ve made the decision to begin studying music, it’s really up to you how far you progress and how quickly you master your chosen instrument. Many beginner students enter into music studies without an understanding of the amount of practice required to learn an instrument. With dreams of the thunderous applause of an appreciative audience, beginners often falsely believe that playing beautiful music only requires a good teacher and an expensive instrument. This couldn’t be farther from the truth: many of history’s best musicians were self-taught and purchased instruments on a humble income. The key to mastering an instrument lies more within the amount of time you spend playing it than the brand name written on the inside.

You’ve heard the expression: “practice makes perfect.” Although it’s a cliché, in truth, there really is no other way of achieving mastery of music without a lot of practice. You could have the best teacher available, but unless you devote the time needed on your end, you’ll wind up frustrated and playing mediocre music (at best!).

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Teachers will have varying views concerning the amount of practice time needed. A lot depends on the skill level of the student, how quickly he or she learns and the goals he or she has concerning the instrument. For example, a student hoping to win a scholarship with music performance might require more practice time than a student who is only learning for personal enrichment. A good teacher will analyze the abilities and goals of a student, and help him or her plan a practice schedule accordingly. However, all students should practice diligently, regardless of their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Tips for your practice schedule

Below are some important things to keep in mind regarding your practice time.

1) Keep it consistent

Consistency encourages routine, and routine is vital in making practice an important part of your life. You’ll need to start thinking of your practice time in the same way that you think of the time you spend doing laundry, completing homework, or the time you spend paying bills: it’s not always the most entertaining and delightful of ventures, but a necessary activity if you plan to achieve your goals.

A book like Simon Fischer's Practice can help you get better results, faster, by improving your practice technique. Read More >>

2) Reserve uninterrupted time

When you are learning a new piece of music, or attempting mastery of a scale or fingering pattern, interruptions to the learning process could be detrimental. Be sure to practice in a room that is quiet and secluded; if there are others around, ask them for uninterrupted time.

3) Set a time limit for yourself

This means a minimum amount of time rather than a maximum amount of time. If you are beginner, most teachers suggest a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour of practice time per day (allowing for one or two days off a week). Keeping in mind that the time you spend practicing will only help you to master your instrument quicker, the more time you set aside each day to practice, the greater results you will see.

4) Practice is musical meditation

Finally, learn to see your practice time as a chance to begin to know music (and your instrument) on a personal level. While it is seldom “fun”, practice time can become a chance for you to collect your thoughts, recuperate from a busy day or otherwise wind down from the stressors in your life. You’ll find that it can be rewarding in many more ways than simply time spent learning music.