1. Make a balanced practice plan– Begin your practice with warmups (could be technical exercises). The pieces which need the most attention (e.g. new ones, or if you are preparing pieces for an upcoming exam or performance) should be dealt with first. You should include sight reading and ear training in your practice session.
2. Have some short term practice goals.– These can be written for either for a day or the whole week- Make S.M.A.R.T goals. S-Specific, M- Measurable, A-Achievable, R- Relevant, T- Time-specific
3. Stick to the plan keeping your goals in mind– If you have made your goals based on SMART, it is likely you will not deviate from them.
4. Take short breaks after every 25 minutes of practice- According to researchers, it has been shown that humans can focus for 25 mins at one time. In order to make the most out of your time at the bench and prevent yourself from becoming stiff, it is crucial that you take breaks.
5. Change your order of practice to avoid getting into auto-pilot mode- If you have the same system of practice daily, there are chances that it will lead to robotic playing. Music is all about artistry, imagination and expression. So, this strategy will be very helpful to keep you inspired and play with ease.
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