Checklist for a Successful Practice Session

Your practice session is approaching. You need to get work done. How do you make sure that happens? Here’s a checklist to help you have a successful practice session.

Before you start:

__ When and how long? Know, or give yourself, a timeframe for your session.

__ Where? Do you have your room set up for success? Chair, music stand, instrument stands.

__ Environment. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable and the light is adequate.

__ Why? Be clear on what you need to accomplish.

__ How? Know what your priorities are. Sometimes our plans get upset by an unexpected difficulty. Make sure you get to the most important part first.

__ Get your instrument ready. Rosin on the bow, reed chosen and adjusted, oil on the valves, slides lubricated, sticks and mallets handy.

__ Assemble your tools. Parts and scores, metronome, tuner, timer, ear plugs.

As you begin:

__ Find your balance. A body in balance is a body that’s ready to move. Spine vertically aligned while allowing its natural curves. Head balanced on top of your spine. (Your skull rests on the top of your spine right between your ears.) Weight should be delivered to your sitting bones if you sit, or into the arches of your feet if you stand, without slumping or arching your lower back. Knees unlocked, pelvis over your ankle joints. Arms suspended over your torso.

__ Open your awareness to all that is within you and outside of you.

__ Warm up your muscles, your ears, and your musical mind. Your begin your warm-up by finding your best sound and clarifying your purest musical intentions.

As you proceed:

__Stay aware of your body. Avoid hyper-focusing on any one aspect of your practicing self.

__Plot your breaks. Take micro-breaks for learning and larger breaks to prevent overuse. [link]

__Stay flexible. You may encounter difficulties you didn’t expect. Be free to judge, in the moment, that you can change your plan if you need to.

As you conclude:

__Make a note of what you achieved. This will help plan your next practice session.

__Check in with your body. Note any stiffness or discomfort that your practice may have aggravated. This can inform your next session.

__Congratulate yourself. Practice is real work, and you just did it!