8 practice hacks for effective, low-stress music learning

8 practice hacks for effective, low-stress music learning

Don’t waste time and effort practicing ineffectively - try these tips to get more out of your music practice time and see faster results.

1. Mentally prepare

Whether your practice time is scheduled for the same time every day or whether you just now decided that you will practice once you get out of the shower, knowing practice time is on the horizon helps you prepare your mind. Get into the right headspace and “pre-practice” by thinking about your repertoire, your goals and challenges, and your plan for what you’ll tackle in practice today.

2. Positive self-talk

Did the idea of pre-practice make you uncomfortable? If you’re a naturally anxious person, thinking about practice before you do it might sound stressful. Instead, or in addition, prepare for practice by encouraging yourself. You can say the words out loud, look into a mirror while saying them, or just think them in your head. Remind yourself of your positive attributes and your past successes. You might want to come up with some affirmations - little mantras to repeat to remind yourself of things you know are true. Try these:

“I get better at music every time I practice.”

“I look forward to making music.”

“I believe in my musical abilities.”

“I embrace the challenges of becoming a better musician.”

“I love nurturing my musical gifts.”

3. Verbalize your goals

At the beginning of a practice session, say or write specific goals you intend to work towards today. Include big goals like polishing a performance piece, small goals like hashing out the rhythm of measure 12, and anything in between. You’ll get a sense of exactly what you’ve accomplished and exactly what to do next.

4. Keep a practice journal

Use a journal to keep track of your goals, your methods, and your progress. It will keep you motivated by helping you see how far you’ve come. It will also make you more efficient to track what practice methods have worked and what hasn’t worked for you.

5. Practice by listening

Record your practice and listen to it. You’ll hear your music in a totally new way, and you’ll see solutions and artistic possibilities that you’re too busy to notice while you’re playing/singing. Listen to professional recordings of the repertoire you’re working on to get inspiration.

6. Take care of your body

Your body is your instrument! Feed and water it. Stretch. Use good posture. If you’re not feeling well, tired, out of shape, or just uncomfortable, it will interfere with your ability to focus fully on your practicing. Care for your body before, during, and after practice, and in your life in general.

7. Take a break

Your brain needs a little time to really take in what you’ve worked on. Take frequent small breaks - even a 30-second pause every few minutes lets your work sink in. Try splitting up your practice time into several shorter segments throughout the day to increase retention.

8. Take a nap

Sleep is magical. While we’re sleeping, our brains rearrange and catalogue and synthesize whatever information they’ve taken in. Sleep accomplishes what repetition can’t. When you wake up, you’ll really KNOW what you’ve learned in practice. Positive reinforcement before you fall asleep, be it thinking good thoughts about your music or getting compliments from others, helps your brain perform this synthesis really well.

For more - a LOT more - about what good practice looks and feels like, read Do I HAVE to practice?

Drop a comment if you try any of these, or if you want to share your favorite practice hack. Happy practicing!