Practice Tips
Many thanks to my students, ages 5 through 18, for these excellent
practice
tips!
What are good practice habits?
- "I try to practice at the same time every day. This makes the practice a part of my daily routine."
- "Look at the music before you play your piece. Practice longer on songs you do not know. Sit up straight. Play with rounded fingers."
- "Good practice habits are not practicing your mistakes. Recording yourself is better because you can hear the mistakes that you make."
- "Good practice habits help you and soon from a weird sound a beautiful song will come."
What practice steps do you use to learn your piece?
- "Practice hands separately, then together."
- "Breaking it down into sections."
- "Practice slowly. Concentrate on what you're playing."
- "Play a few lines at a time in sections. A certain measure you're having trouble on could be a good place to start."
What do you like about practicing?
- "The fun of hearing yourself play the piece."
- "I learn neat songs."
- "My favorite part about practicing is that once you do it over and over, you realize that it's easier than you thought."
- "It helps me not get a lecture from my mom for doing a bad job, and it gives me something to do."
What do you dislike about practicing?
- "I don't like it when my mommy and daddy don't listen to me practice. I get lonely."
- "My least favorite thing about practicing is that you have to understand that you can't just be good at what you're playing. You have to work at it."