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Part of the reason why I think practice can have such a bad reputation is that we aren't always taught how to practice. Frequently, what we don't know or understand, we don't like.
But since we all have the ability to learn, we can all learn to practice. Here are a few ideas to consider as we all rework new practice habits and schedules. These are being presented from the perspective of music practice, but are essential for any area of our lives we want to develop skills.
Start with Why
Without knowing why you are doing something, it can be very hard to commit and find focus. Maybe you are practicing to learn a particular piece or technique or to be able to play in an orchestra or with your friends. Whatever the reason, being clear on your WHY is the first way to build motivation and momentum forward. It's important for parents of young children to be clear on their WHY, as young children may not develop their own WHY for a while. This is ok!
Observe & Listen
Once you have established your WHY, get out there and listen and observe everything you can. So much learning is done through exposure.
Create an environment that inspires you
Prepare the learning environment. This might be setting up a stand for your music and notes and a stand or a safe place for your instrument. This space should be calming and free of clutter and distractions. Display your favourite artists, quotes that inspire you, art you enjoy and easy access to listening and any other resources you may need. Make the space convenient and simple.
Schedule, plan, commit & rework as needed
Pull out your calendar or daily schedule. If you don't have one, create one or use free apps or websites (I've used Google Calendar for years). Plan into your calendar or schedule when you will practice. Be specific. Commit to your plan for a few days and then reflect. Is it working or do you need to try something different? Can you find a time that is consistent throughout the week or does the time need to change depending on the day. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It's all about experimenting and finding exactly what is going to work for you and your lifestyle.
Bracket practice with what you already do consistently
If you are struggling finding a time in your schedule to practice, look at what you already do consistently on a daily basis. This could be eating a meal, going to work or school, exercising, brushing your teeth, etc. On a sheet of paper, write out a commitment to yourself - After I brush my teeth, I will practice my violin. Leave the note by your toothbrush so you don't forget your commitment to yourself. If the act of practicing the violin seems too daunting or overwhelming, make the action smaller.
After I brush my teeth, I will play one thing on my violin or even, I will pick up my violin. Start with the small action that you know is so simple there is no way you can't do it. Once the habit is established, you can gradually add on. (This concept comes from the book Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg).
Find support / a community
Being a part of Group Classes plays a huge role in our developing skills and level of motivation. In Group Class we support one another on our own personal journey and work together to explore beyond our comfort zone. This support is integral to moving forward toward our goals.
5-4-3-2-1 MOVE
Getting started can be the hardest part. We spend so much time thinking about the things we should be doing that in the time it's taken us to think and ruminate about it, we could have done the task 2-3 times over. When feeling stuck with task, try to just get up and move. Just moving our body can give us the drive and energy we need to get ourselves out of thinking about what we should do, and actually doing it. (54321 Move is taken from the book The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins).
Start small & focus on ONE thing
Got up and moved your body, but still not sure how to start? This happens to me all the time. I find the strength to start the task, but then get so overwhelmed by what needs to get done that I freeze and can't figure out where to start. When this happens, try not to focus on the whole or the end result. Choose one small thing you can do right now in the moment. It can be anything. No expectations, no judgements, just one small task that you know you can complete. Once it's completed, take another small step. Continue taking one small step after another. Each small success builds momentum until all of a sudden you have a handful of small accomplishments.
Be aware of what is hard, then break it up into easy pieces
It is so easy to be working at something that is hard and to keep saying to ourselves, "this is hard, i can't do it, how will this ever be possible, how did they ever learn this, what is wrong with me?" it can go on and on. By developing a growth mindset and being aware of what we need to work on can make us feel empowered because we realize our potential is not limited. We can learn to do anything if we can become aware and break things into small steps. We can learn to work smarter, not harder. People don't accomplish great things by being good at what is hard. They are good at breaking the hard down into small manageable steps. They are good at being consistent and never giving up.
Keep track of your progress
You don't just need to be a visual learner for this to be important. Why do video games, sports and competitions become so addictive? Because we crave seeing how far we have come and what we have accomplished and what we still have left to overcome. It gives us perspective. It gives us motivation, especially when done with others. Make charts, check off the calendar, download an app, do whatever works for you to keep track of your successes, not matter how big or small.
Set a goal
Believe in yourself - believe if you put in the work, it will get easier. You will progress. When you put in the work, you will start to enjoy the process of learning even more because you believe that you can do it. What was once considered too hard will now just be a challenge to overcome, because you know how to handle it and the outcome that you are looking for is out there. You just have to continue reaching for it.
Lastly
Think about how all of these points can be used in so many other areas of life, like school, work, hobbies, chores... practicing an instrument doesn't just enhance our skills on that instrument, it enhances our skills for life.
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