We've all been there. Days when practicing our instrument feels more like a chore than a creative outlet. Life gets busy, and it's easy to let practice slip by with the rest of the demands of life, or it can become just another item on the to-do list. Or maybe you've been practicing for so long that you find your mind wandering and yourself going through the motions without truly engaging in the experience.
But what if practice could be a source of joy and rejuvenation? What if it was a space for self-discovery and growth?
I believe it can be. With the right mindset, every practice session can be a transformative experience, but it requires two key things: setting the right intention and maintaining awareness throughout your practice.
Here are a few tips for intentional music practice:
1. Start Each Session with an Intention
This intention can be a technical goal, like working on speed, or a personal growth goal, like finding joy in your playing. Set a clear intention for your practice session and keep it in mind as you work. Then give yourself a to-do for your session and get to work while keeping your intention at the forefront of your mind.
2. Stay Aware and Redirect When Needed
It's okay if you get distracted sometimes. It happens to all of us, and sometimes it might even be good for the brain. However, if you want to follow through with your intention, be aware of how and what you are practicing, and how you feel during your session. Then, if you find yourself getting sidetracked, gently redirect your thoughts and actions back to your intention.
I find myself distracted frequently when I practice, often getting so caught up in the music I want to keep playing instead of focusing on the trickier passages that need work. That's okay…. Sometimes. However, if my intention for the day was to improve on those sections, playing straight through wouldn't help me much!
3. Pivot When Needed
Staying engaged in your practice session will give you feedback about what is and isn’t working, both technically and emotionally. If your fingers aren’t working that day, pivot your plan and play less technical material. If you notice you are too distracted to do intense woodshedding practice, switch to sight-reading easier music. The key is to stay tapped into your intuition and let it guide your practice session. No one wants to walk away from their practice session frustrated and discouraged. Sometimes we feel that way because we practiced without intention and mindfulness!
From Chore to Joy!
Using these three tips for intentional music practice will help bring more joy to your practice sessions whether you practice ten minutes a day or two hours!
For more support in your practice routine, check out my newly published Notes to Self: A Guided Mindful Practice Journal. With daily prompts designed to help you focus on the present moment and celebrate your musical journey, this journal can help you reframe and transform your practice sessions.
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