The Real Secret to Effective Practicing

Bored with your practice routine? Remember – when it comes to practicing, there are no hard and fast rules. So mix it up, keep if fresh and have some fun! With these great tips from Burbank, CA teacher Victoria G., you’ll be looking forward to practicing instead of dreading it…

To be encouraged to practice, every musician has heard countless catchy phrases, like “Practice makes Perfect.” Often this involves hours of repetition, drills, discipline and sometimes complaining. But practicing doesn’t have to be a chore and, in fact, it should be the highlight of making music!

Perhaps the hardest part of practicing is that many musicians, including myself, become so wrapped up in technical matters or how we sound, that we forget why we are even making music. Without emotion or joy, music becomes just black and white dots on paper, and then no wonder practicing seems dull.

So to help this, I’ve learned a few tips along the way that I try to pass on to my students. First thing to remember is to relax! Sometimes in lessons I will switch vocal “do re mi” warm-ups for tongue twisters or other silly phrases. Or if I notice students are concentrating too hard on their posture, I will have them walk or skip around the room while singing. You’d be so surprised how much easier technique becomes when you relax your body and mind, and just let the voice take over.

Another way to help your practicing is to just have fun! You can start by simply mixing up your practice routine. For example, if you are working on a slow, dramatic piece, practice it at a faster tempo and switch up the mood. This contrast will help your learn different things about the song while also helping you to stay engaged! Of course, you would want to perform it as written, but practicing it differently always helps keep the piece fresher in your mind, and again, allows your voice to be free and create better music.

Also, make sure to reward yourself! Not every practice session is going to have a life changing breakthrough moment. But keep in mind that for every day you work hard, you are one day closer to your goals! Sometimes the reward can be as simple as taking an extra five minute break, going on a walk, or trying a different genre of music you always wanted to try. Whatever it is, always take the time to stop and praise your own work, because out of all opinions, your opinion matters most in regard to your music.

So, sometimes practicing means relaxing, allowing yourself to have fun, and rewarding your progress! Now, don’t get me wrong – I am a strong believer of “Practice makes Perfect,” and I know that sometimes it does take countless hours of hard work to be successful. But every minute of practice should be spent loving the art, and the reward of practicing should strengthen the desire to learn more!