If you are reading this article, you are probably a musician always striving to improve. And I believe the pursuit of excellence is a priority of any practicing performer, no matter if you are a hobbyist or do gigs for a living, and regardless of the instrument you play (including voice).
Below I am sharing a time management strategy that helps me be more consistent in practicing music, as well as other aspects of my life that I once struggled to improve. If you stick with me to the end, you will also get a free printable practice planner that you can start using right this moment (No opt in required)
In our ideal vision of mastering our craft we have all the time at our disposal 24/7 and all we do is play, sing or write songs. We often think this is exactly what those successful artists, we admire and are influenced by, do. They are on top because they have all the time on earth to play.
Wah, wah, wah! Wrong answer!
In practice, every single person has tons of responsibilities and duties other than music. You probably have a day job that pays your bills, you might have kids, go to school, or you are a touring musician with a packed schedule.
A lot of folks think that if you don’t have 2-3 free hours today, there is no point in starting to practice. Or take 1 free day every 2 weeks and think that practicing for 8-10 hours will compensate for the days you haven’t even looked at your instrument. Chances are that this approach will get you overwhelmed and frustrated 9 out of 10 times. I’ve been there!
As much as we are all individuals with different needs, responsibilities and working styles, there is no one universal magic formula that will help everyone find a solution to this challenge. Yet, I am going to share the one that works for me and I hope at least 1 of the people who decide to apply it will benefit from it.
1. Lock out a short time slot every day!
As I am a person who really easily gets distracted, and I know a lot of creatives can relate to that, I can’t keep my focus on one task for a long period of time. Therefore I often struggle to lock a long time slot every day dedicated to practicing. So the time frame that works for me is 30 minutes. I have made a commitment that even if my day doesn’t go as planned I will be able to make a 30 minute time stretch to practice. I might have to wake up half an hour earlier, or go to bed half an hour later, or skip a lunch or coffee break, but I will show up for my craft and for myself.
I suggest that you decide on a realistic time slot that would work for you. If you have more time, or longer attention span, you can go for 45-60 minutes. If you have a loaded schedule and are challenged in making that much time, even as little as 15-20 minutes on a consistent basis will help you move forward. Modify it in a way that matches your needs and what you are willing to sacrifice. Keep in mind that you can always extend it if you feel comfortable about it.
2. Pick an area of focus!
Make a decision on exactly what area of your musicianship or technique you want to improve. Be as specific as possible, and choose 1 or 2 areas of focus.
Do you want to improve your scales? Do you dream of nailing those harmonies or expanding your vocal range? Do you have an upcoming audition and you need to learn that 1 song forwards and back?
Make that choice, write it down and stick with it!
This way you will be able to eliminate distractions and track your progress, and take notes of what works and what needs more attention and practice.
3. Plan your session in advance!
Once you’ve set your goal, break it down into action steps and fill it into your planner (if you don’t have one you can use the one attached below).
Do you want to learn to vocalize the natural minor scale? How are you going to approach it?
E.g.:
Ø Play a few minor scales on my keyboard and become familiar with the sound. (if you want to be even more specific you can identify the keys you will play those scales in)
Ø Vocalize the scales playing along on my keyboard slowly, so that my voice gets used to the pattern.
Ø Vocalize the scales playing along at normal speed
Ø Vocalize the scales without the help of my keyboard………etc.
4. Show up for you practice!
You have decided on a time frame that works for you. You know exactly what steps you will take during this session! So now it’s time to show up for it and do the work! It’s so much fun and you are joyful because you are doing what you love and expanding your skillset.
5. Track your progress!
Don’t forget to check the task once you’ve done it, and review your session at the end.
Was this time frame enough to accomplish all the tasks you scheduled?
May be next time you will need to list fewer tasks and take more time on each one. May be you have some time left, and you can either spend it on polishing the items you’ve already listed or next time you can list an extra item. It’s up to you.
The valuable thing you will take away is that you will have a visual expression of your progress and you will know exactly where you are in the area you want to advance.
If something didn’t work from the first attempt, it is only a sign that it needs more effort, so you can list it as a recurring task until you feel confident enough about it and then move on to another one.
6. Celebrate your wins and repeat!
There is nothing sweeter at the end of a practice session than the feeling of accomplishment. As you have a visual representation of your progress, don’t shy away from congratulating yourself on showing up and on the great job, and even give yourself a little reward, may be treat yourself to a drink, or a relaxing walk or anything you enjoy and have time for.
This way, you are ready to come back the next day from a point of fulfillment and excitement and spend your session on a positive and productive vibe!
As promised, here is the link to the free Music Practice Planner:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4o4xl7p2q7mich1/music%20practice%20planner.pdf?dl=0
