By Erica Garcia

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. It has been cited that 10,000 hours are required to reach mastery in a specific subject. While the Long Island Violin Shop’s lesson program students are practicing away to reach that targeted 10,000 hours, here are some tips to help all developing musicians on that journey.

Have a Goal Everyday

The human mind can only process one thought at a time. When you sit down to practice, have one, defined, goal you wish to achieve in that session. Perhaps it is something as localized as a run in a single measure. Maybe it is as broad as playing the whole piece with no hesitations. Achieving a manageable goal activates the reward center of our brain. Click here to learn more about how setting and achieving goals leads to a positive feedback loop.

Allow Time to Celebrate Breakthroughs

There is a stereotype that excellence can only be achieved through torturous work, that one must suffer to be deserving of success. While focus is a key ingredient for progress, you are allowed to be happy about your accomplishments. When a breakthrough is achieved in a piece, whether it is playing the piece fully through, being able to play it from memory, or the celebration of performance, allow for a reward! Whether it is a trip to Carvel, seeing a new movie, or simply allowing yourself to bask in an accomplishment, acknowledging your own success is an essential step for a dopaminergic musical journey.

Discover What Time of Day Feels Best

Whether you are an early bird or a night owl, there is likely a time that works best for your energy levels to practice. Perhaps spend a week practicing in the morning if you always practice in the evening and take note of how you feel.

Change your Environment

Practicing in a different space makes a larger impact than you may think. It completely changes your visual and aural stimulus. Perhaps one room is more resonant, making it a more pleasurable experience to practice in. Maybe another room has darker lighting, making visual distractions less noticeable. Experimenting with your environment also adds a layer of novelty to your practice routine.

Set the Vibe

It is easy to grab your instrument and jump into practicing. However, allowing your mind time to transition from whatever you were doing before to practicing is a great way to center yourself. Take a few moments to breathe, and then adjust your space to your liking. If the counter is cluttered, clear it off. Make sure you have a full glass of water nearby to fuel your work. Maybe even go above and beyond by lighting a candle. Curating a mindful environment aids in leading to a mindful practice session.

Reflect on Why You Feel Unmotivated to Practice

There are many reasons why some days you feel less motivated to practice. Figuring out why is the first step to determining a solution. A very common reason why people are unmotivated to practice is they simply are tired and do not want to unpack their instrument. Challenge yourself to do five minutes of warmups and see if you feel more motivated to practice. Another common reason is you would rather be doing something else. I find practicing earlier in the day is a great way to negate the temptation of another activity.

Conclusion

Practicing is a necessary aspect of improving your craft. It is natural that there will be some days where you approach practicing with great enthusiasm and others where your motivation comes up short. Hopefully you can apply these tips to aid your musical journey.