Practice Principles

Practice Principles

• Establish a long term musical goal, and keep it in mind at each practice session.
• Focus on your weaknesses, not on your strengths. Work only on what is relevant to your long term musical goals (Principle No. 1).
• Set a short term goal before each practice session,. Don't compare the end of a previous session to the start of the current session.
• Practice what you don't know — NOT what you DO know. If your practice sounds good — your working on what you already know and can do.
• If your practice sounds good and is error free, it doesn't count towards your practice session. Save that for rehearsing and performances.
• Don't practice anything wrong, not one note or one beat. If in doubt, triple check the note or beat it. Then double-check it again.
• Don't play songs through from beginning to end; work on parts or pieces of songs. Save the full song for rehearsing for performances ( no 4 ).
• Leave your instrument out, or if you're a singer, leave your music out on a music stand, in a place where you'll see it every day. Your instrument is your voice, it is always out and with you - great for anytime practice.
• It's recommended to practice, at least, 10 minutes every day. Short sessions are better than no sessions. If you miss days, don't give up. Just get back on schedule. Away from your instrument, working the tings that don't require your with your instrument.
• Avoid doing the same thing, in the same order, that you did the day before. Explore all possible variations.