Does practice really make perfect? It certainly makes progress when executed properly, so the saying ought to be, “Proper practice makes progress,” I think.
Summertime is typically a season in which we start our new practice goals with energy but quickly realize that a lax routine allows for practice to go by the wayside. One way that you can combat this mindset is by keeping a practice log. You can find one here.
I’ve shared one tip on how to clearly see what you’ve been practicing without littering your log with scribble scrabble. You may find that here.
Tip #2 – DOT THE MINUTES
If you aim to practice everyday, which would be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, your log will fill up and look cluttered. The purpose of a log is to look back and analyze progress, but how can one analyze with all that writing?
Think about how often you practice and how long your regular practice sessions are. Draw a dot to mark particular increments of time. A dot may represent 10 minutes or 15 minutes.
For example,
If you had a busy day yet managed to play a scale or two in the morning, sight read a little bit after lunch, and go over a mastered piece before bedtime, you might just write one dot to symbolize that you practiced 15 minutes that day, and give yourself an ice cream because a day like that takes discipline!
If you find that your regular practice time has increased to a point where all you see are dots, which is a very good thing, consider changing the pen color or drawing a circle around the dot to represent 30 minutes. Be creative and consistent.
Stay tuned for next week’s last practice log tip!
