My Honest Thoughts on Practice That Will Save You Time
Some honest thoughts on practice (that might save you a lot of frustration)
I see this all the time with students. They sit down once a week, maybe the night before their lesson, and try to cram in a big practice session. An hour, sometimes more. It feels productive in the moment, like you’re really “doing the work”. But honestly, it’s usually not where the real progress happens.
Short, focused practice wins. Every time.
Even 10 minutes a day, if it’s actually focused, will get you further than one long session where your brain checks out halfway through. And lets be real, most of us aren’t super focused for a full hour. Especially after school or work when you’re already tired.
When you practise in smaller chunks, something interesting happens. Your brain has time to process what you did. You come back the next day and things feel a bit easier, like your fingers just know where to go. That’s not magic, it’s just how learning works.
I often tell my students to think of practice like brushing your teeth. You wouldn’t skip it all week and then brush for 2 hours on Sunday. Same idea here.
Also, shorter sessions tend to be more intentional. You actually listen. You notice mistakes. You fix things properly instead of just playing through and hoping it improves on its own (it usually doesnt).
A simple way to structure it could be:
a quick warm up
one small section of a piece
slow, careful repetition
maybe finish by playing something you enjoy
That’s it. Doesn’t have to be complicated.
For younger students, this can make a huge difference too. It’s much easier to build a habit around 5 or 10 minutes than it is around 30 or 40. Parents often tell me their child “can’t sit still long enough” and honestly… they don’t need to. Keep it short, keep it consistent, and it starts to stick.
For adult learners, especially if you’re time poor, this approach is kind of a lifesaver. You don’t need a big block of time. You just need a small window and a clear focus. Even a few minutes before dinner or after work is enough to keep things moving forward.
And on the days where you really don’t feel like practising, just sit down and play for a few minutes anyway. No pressure. Sometimes those end up being the best sessions.
So if your practice has been feeling a bit all over the place, try shrinking it. Less time, more focus. It might feel too simple at first, but it works. It really does.