Productive Practice

 

Not all practice is the same when learning and practicing your instrument. Two people may spend the same time learning an instrument but end up with entirely different sets of skills. To grow as a musician, you need to have an understanding of what a good practice session should look like.

What is productive practice?

A productive session is one where you are not just working hard but working in the most efficient manner. Here is a guiding checklist that you can use to evaluate the quality of your practice.

1.     Practice is productive when it’s guided.

The most crucial stage of learning any instrument is when you are learning the basics or trying to pick up a new skill. The basics of an instrument like the piano involve hand positioning and movement, while more advanced skills include hand expansion. When playing the violin or cello, you need a basic understanding of pitch. Without a proper understanding of these basics, you're learning curve will be staggered.

It is, therefore, essential to have a teacher to guide you as you practice, more so in the beginning and when you are trying to advance. Furthermore, having a teacher gives you an added sense of inspiration. Practicing alone can be productive, but it can also be limiting and lonely. A teacher introduces social interaction and new approaches based on years of experience.

2.     Practice is productive when it’s structured.

There are one of two things that happen when learning an instrument. First, you may start with so much excitement that you immediately begin playing that one song you've always dreamt of playing on your instrument. The second is that you learn a song, like it, and play only it in your practice time. In both these scenarios, you won’t be growing your skills.

You need a structure that pushes you out of your comfort zone to keep advancing your skills. A structured session should have the following elements:

·       Warm-up. Just like you warm up before a workout, you must warm up before playing your instrument to prevent injuries. You might not feel it in the short term, but in the long term, warming up may help you avoid injuries such as tendonitis, a stiff neck, and lower back pain. Warming up also enables you to settle into your session and focus.

·       Technical Practice. This is where you focus either on rote exercises or a part of a song that you are struggling with. Rote exercises include scales, chords, and arpeggios that help you have more dexterity and agility while playing. Parts of a song that you may struggle with include speed and accents.

·       Repertoire. It is always important to have a piece that you enjoy playing and find moderately easy to play. This will help to keep you interested.

·       Music Theory. There are many arguments made against the need to learn music theory. However, an understanding of music theory broadens your perspective of music. You will be able to see patterns easily and therefore interpret music faster.

·   Aural Awareness. As a musician, your ear needs to pick out different pitches, tones, rhythms, and chords. No matter what instrument you play, ear training exercises will improve how well you express a piece of music and how well you can play with other musicians.

·       . Unless only reading from sheet music is your goal, gone are the days when you could only perform after spending weeks poring over music sheets. Learning to improvise helps you hone your skills, and it feeds your creativity and interest in an instrument.

 

3.     Practice is productive when it’s goal oriented.

Understanding your end goal helps you define your practice structure even further. For example, your goal may be to play Chopin effortlessly, while another person may want to be good enough to play in their local band. With this in mind, you may want to focus on technical practice and music theory and then end your practice with some improvisation exercises. On the other hand, if your focus is playing in a band, you will prioritize improvisation, repertoire, and aural awareness.

Benefits of consistent practice

When learning an instrument, thirty minutes of practice each day differs from two hours on the weekends only. Establishing clear goals will help you remain consistent because it breaks down the end goals into smaller steps, allowing you to practice continuously without being overwhelmed. Some of the benefits you will experience as a result of consistent practice are:

·       Formation of muscle memory

Muscle memory forms when you perform an action repeatedly to the point that you can achieve it without much conscious effort. Once your muscle memory builds, your playing sounds more natural and nuanced.

·       Avoidance of injury

You have to have good technique while practicing. However, consistency also goes a long way in preventing injury. Consistency strengthens your muscles, therefore lessening the chances of straining something. Doing a "crash practice," where you practice fewer times and for more extended periods only strains your muscles.

·       Improvement in hand-eye coordination

All instruments require you to balance what your hands are doing and what you are hearing. You may also involve your eyes if you are sight reading and your legs if you keep tempo or add extra effects. Improved coordination is beneficial when you learn a new instrument or play sports.

·       Regulation of your mood

Consistent practice helps you develop your skills more efficiently and therefore appreciate music more. Enjoying playing can help you reduce stress and anxiety. Furthermore, playing well can also help you play pieces that mirror your emotions and act as an outlet for your feelings.

·       Improvement of brain functions

Some studies have proven that playing an instrument leads to better development of the brain for younger adults and children. A more developed brain leads to better cognitive functions and better processing capabilities. In older people, consistency in practice can improve reaction times and make one sharper because one is used to interpreting different stimuli simultaneously

 

Practice can be tedious, but a proper foundation creates endless avenues for what you can do with your music.

By Annson Mathews

Director 

Notes n Chords School Of Music