Practice Routines

Practice routines need to take account of individual circumstances. Common features of effective practice routines include:

• identifying the main areas of practice, and what needs attention, beforehand
• checking timings for different parts of practice and using time effectively
• using enjoyable and relevant warm-up exercises
• gaining an overview of whole pieces or movements
• isolating and practising difficult bars/notes/phrases
• making, and then integrating, improvements
• incorporating sufficient repetition
• attending to expressive, stylistic and interpretative elements
• revising and reviewing pieces already learnt
• improvising on related themes
• creating new music
• recording a simulated performance
• listening and self-evaluating
• playing and singing for fun and satisfaction

It is worth remembering that many informal learners develop skills intuitively and independently, motivated solely by enjoyment and satisfaction. Through trial and error, repetition and rehearsal, they develop appropriate skills, imitating others, refining their work, imposing their own discipline and developing personal autonomy, a characteristic that all musicians need.