How to Optimize your Music Practice Session

In this hi-tech, digital age, we are constantly bombarded with information. It is overwhelming! If you bring this attitude into practicing music, you will have trouble learning anything! By quieting your mind and concentrating on very specific things you can learn anything in an simple, effortless way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Focus
• Patience
• Positive Attitude
• Peaceful Atmosphere

1. 

   Relax. Release the tension from your body by taking deep breaths. Get focused on the task at hand and remember that there is no urgency. By keeping your mind and body in a relaxed state, you will be using your brain to its fullest, most coherent capacity.

2. Set a goal. Keep it simple. By setting a simple goal you are giving your mind less information to assimilate. You will process the information fully, and will be less likely to forget it. This will insure that each task is fully digested and less likely to be forgotten. You will maximize your time by practicing in this effective manner.

3. Execute your exercises slowly - very slowly. Make sure you completely absorb the material you are playing. You are trying to train your muscle memory. Make sure you are flowing. Stay relaxed and loose. If you feel tension, stop playing. Start again slower and more relaxed.

4. Assess your performance. Do not be hard on yourself. You are trying to learn. Relinquish all expectations during this part of the process. Be objective, and stay positive. Negative thoughts about your performance can snowball and completely obliterate your positive creative attitude.

5. Bring the speed up slowly. As you increase the speed of your exercise, make sure that everything is flowing in a relaxed manner. Do a mental scan of all the muscles you are using and make sure they are all relaxed. If there is tension present, return to a manageable tempo.

6. Go back to step 1. Relax. Set a new goal. Repeat the process. As you continue to practice in this manner, you will get more and more in tune with your body. Your mind will get more and more focused. With an attitude like this, you can accomplish anything!

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you are having fun! Music is an expression of joy. It's a blessing to be a musician.
• Don't stress out! Remember that a great musician has a strong foundation which is built one step at a time, from the bottom up.
• Don't expect instant results. Things take time for the mind and body to digest. Sometimes you may have to take a break and let the new information sink in.