Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

Jan 31

A teacher once told me that the saying, "Practice makes perfect!" was not entirely true. He was right! Practice isn't useful if you're practicing incorrectly. Instead he said, "Perfect practice makes perfect!" Granted, no practice time is perfect, but the idea that is at the core of that saying is, you must be intentional about your practice time if you want to succeed.

Here are 4 simple tips to help you get the most out of your practice time!

Practice Times

Try and set aside a time each day that you keep only for practicing. Write it down in your planner or schedule it in your phone. If you keep doing it at the same time, you will get into a rhythm and eventually it will become a habit.

Set Goals

Setting goals is the most practical way of visualizing what you accomplish! Set both short term and long term goals. Write down a list of your goals in your phone, notebook, or practice binder. Try setting goals for:

Each Practice Session
“Today I’ll work on bars 4 - 8”
Each Week
“This week I will finish the entire song”
”This week I will learn a new song”
Each Year
“I’m going to write my exam this year”
”I’m going to plan a performance in public”

Studies have shown that making concrete goals not only helps you attain those goals, but also frees your mind up to achieve other things! Once you complete a goal, cross it off your list because it acts as proof of what you accomplished that day!

Slow It Down

Slow and steady wins the race. Slowing down the tempo when you practice is the best way to make sure that you are learning a section correctly. Repeat the section at a slower tempo and then as you become more comfortable with it, you can pick up the pace.

Do Away With Distractions

“There are distractions everywhere, how can I stay focused?”

Answer: Turn your devices off. This could be your phone or tablet. If your piano is in the same room as your TV, make sure that it is completely off — the TV on with the volume down does not count. If you’re living with family or roommates, politely ask them not to talk to you during your practice session.