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Practice Tips For Success

So you want to play music. You've come to the right place. No matter how young or old you are, anyone can learn to play an instrument.



There are as many ways to practice as there are people, but some practice techniques are more effective than others. While some good tips may work for one person. someone else may benefit from a different approach. If you're just starting out or if you've been playing for years, there are some things you can do that will always benefit your progress, and they're surprisingly easy. This page is a collection of tips from different sources and collections that will have something to get you started or help bump you out of a temporary slump. Enjoy!

From the website "Music Lessons Resource"

For Students: 10 Music Practice Tips
  1. Set goals for your practice time. ...
  2. Keep a practice log. ...
  3. Break up your practice time into smaller increments. ...
  4. Remember that practicing is NOT just about playing through your music. ...
  5. Repetition is key. ...
  6. Make sure your practice room is set up for effective practicing. ...
  7. Warm up mindfully. ...
  8. Record yourself.
  9. Remember that practicing isn’t just about playing your instrument
  10. Practice something EVERY DAY

What fifteen minutes of practice seems like to a kid

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Here's a great resource form a series on NPR called "The Young Person's Guide to Making Music" to provide guidance and suggestions for parents and kids just starting out in music. Another article in the series from NPR, Getting Kids To Practice Music — Without Tears Or Tantrums is very helpful and informative. And finally from the NPR series, this list of tips will benefit anyone seeking to improve their musicianship and practice skills.

What fifteen minutes of practice seems like to a parent

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Another "10 Tips" list that you may find all or part of helpful, is by Amy MacKenzie for Classic FM digital radio. Incorporate these tips into your daily practice routine, and you'll soon see the benefits. And if anyone is suffering under the illusion that the greatest musicians of all time don't need to practice then have a look at what Itzhak Perlman has to say with his Five ultimate pro-tips for practicing. More than worth the time to listen and make a part oy your routine. Also from Mr Perlman, a short video on his website, is full of "Pearls of Practice Wisdom".

What fifteen minutes of practice should sound like

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There are so many more resources for learning about music, available today on the internet, that there is no real point in trying to list them all in one place here. Instead this is meant to help get you started on your journey. I will leave you with another short list here, from Musicians Way, that you may find helpful as a resource, and from "Children's Music Workshop", here are some practice resources for both students and parents. And if this isn't enough to get you started a Google search will give you MANY more resources to tailor your routine.
As a last word here, I'll offer this bit of advice: If you have a teacher, either privately or in a school music program, Listen To What They Have To Say. They can see your progress in real time and help you develop good habits and avoid pitfalls so that you can be the best that you can be.