When almost anyone picks up a musical instrument for the first time they usually experience feelings of excitement, wonder and anticipation of what’s to come next. This is usually followed by the sobering reality that what’s to come next largely depends on you. In other words, instruments don’t play themselves; it’s the practice that you put into your chosen instrument that largely determines if you will become the next Mozart or the next Milli Vanilli.
Most people think that practicing hours and hours per day is the only way to get better on your instrument, but this is a common misconception. In my opinion, a half hour of quality practice beats an hour of quantity practice any day. The following tips are just some of the ways that you can alter your practice routines to achieve better results:
1. Make a practice schedule for yourself – Decide ahead of time what you will practice for the day (e.g. 10 minutes of scales, 15 minutes of sight-reading, 10 minutes of improvising, etc.) This way you know exactly what to practice before you sit down, letting you use your time more effectively.
2. Set manageable practice goals for yourself – If you decide beforehand that, for example, Monday you will practice for 30 minutes, Tuesday you will practice for 45 minutes, etc., you will be less likely to abandon practice early because you have set time limits for yourself.
3. Remove distractions from your practice area – If you’re like most people, practicing in front of the TV is not going to get you very far. Set up a designated practice area in your house that is free from anything that might district you while you are playing. This lets you focus in on the things you need to work on and don’t worry – you’re XBOX will still be there when you’re done.
4. Make practicing fun – It’s true, practice can be boring, but it doesn’t have to be if you make sure to balance the boring stuff with something fun. Have your instructor teach you a song you’ve really been wanting to learn so you can break up your practice time and make it more interesting.
By following these examples you should be able to make your practice time more effective and more interesting. Now if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly feel the urge to go practice.
For more information on West Coast Music Academy, please visit our website at www.westcoastmusicacademy.com or call the school at 661-253-9262.