Be Consistent (Daily Tips #2)

Are you a busy student with an erratic schedule? Do you practice maybe an hour or so every other day and then do a marathon? Or are you an overworked professional with many responsibilities including young children and old parents, and your practicing is sketchy but you show up to play a double rehearsal on a Mahler symphony racing in at the last minute? Scenarios such as these can be a recipe for disaster. It is better to practice a consistent hour a day (with a day off a week) rather than cramming. It is very important to increase your practice load gradually before a major performance, before a festival you are planning to attend with longer hours than you are accustomed to, or before a jury, an audition or a competition. But back off a few days before the performance or audition so you give your muscles a break.

It is essential to return to playing gradually after a vacation or when you are coming back after an injury. I will often start with only 10 minutes. Increase the number of short periods of time that you play before you increase the length of time. Avoid getting "stuck" on one difficult passage. Vary your repertoire. Different works or passages with different techniques and challenges will use different muscle groups. This prevents overusing a specific muscle group. Playing (Less) Hurt has several practice plans. It pays to practice smarter not harder.