Average Time To Practise? Options

[Soph15]

Hi, what is the average time during a week to spend practising each instrument? Is there a specific amount that is recommended, or is it whatever is comfortable??

Soph (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Rosemary7391]

I do as much as I can fit in. Not so much in term time as I would like.

[ben_walker446]

Everyone practising in different amounts. Never work to a time limit though ! 10 minutes focused practice is better than 1 hour focused practice. According to my teachers you should practice every day even if it is just warming, up or a few scales, and this should last at a minimum between 20 mins and 30 mins

Each to their own !!

[SaxFan]

Everyone practising in different amounts. Never work to a time limit though ! 10 minutes focused practice is better than 1 hour focused practice. According to my teachers you should practice every day even if it is just warming, up or a few scales, and this should last at a minimum between 20 mins and 30 mins

Each to their own !!

I heard Paul Harris say that if you spent a whole 'lesson' or practice on getting even a handful of notes right, and you achieved that, it was time well spent.

I think the amount of time is not as valid as the quality of practice in that time.

[superpyroman]

10 minutes focused practice is better than 1 hour focused practice.

are you sure?

[Soph15]

10 minutes focused practice is better than 1 hour focused practice.

are you sure?

I know I thought that too!!

[ben_walker446]

Well yeh !!!

You have a problem in a piece of music so go onto practice, but you go into the practice section not focused and spend a full hour "Practicing" and you go to you next practice section and encouter the same problem again. Wasted Hour ?! Yes or No?

You have a problem in a piece so go onto practice, you are really focused and within 10 minutes you have solved the problem. Next time you go to practice this problem does not arise again !

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

That's my take on things !

[sneekymum]

Most of my practice is in blasts of three to five minutes.

Sometimes I use a timer which I counts the cumulative amount of time I've spent - I start it and stop it but don't reset it until the next day. I seem to easily spend an hour to an hour an a half a day just by playing in small amounts - I practice while the kettle boils, while the computer switches on, while I'm waiting for the click that means I can open the washing machine door, while the bath fills, waiting for toast, during the ads....

[Dulciana]

Most of my practice is in blasts of three to five minutes.

Sometimes I use a timer which I counts the cumulative amount of time I've spent - I start it and stop it but don't reset it until the next day. I seem to easily spend an hour to an hour an a half a day just by playing in small amounts - I practice while the kettle boils, while the computer switches on, while I'm waiting for the click that means I can open the washing machine door, while the bath fills, waiting for toast, during the ads....

Sounds just like me! It works! I've never used a timer, but I'd say it would probably add up to quite a bit. I've even learnt how to do constructive practice whilst asking children's spellings. A friend of mine swears by practising with the radio on, as it really forces you to focus hard. I would rarely sit for more than half an hour at a time - so I agree with Ben in a way, in that I don't think my concentration is worthy of longer stints - but I do think that anything is better than nothing!

[Sotto Voce]

I'm a freshman in college and here piano majors are suppossed to practice at least 20 hours a week. I am finding this very difficult to do...I can't focus for more than an hour or so at a time which means I have to break my practice sessions up throughout the day. It is very inconvenient, especially since the practice rooms are quite a long walk from my dorm. Just out of curiousity, what is considered the normal reccommended practice time for college students?

[barry-clari]

I think the amount of time is not as valid as the quality of practice in that time.

Absolutely SaxFan.

I'd also add that practising regularly is far better than doing a huge amount of practice once a week. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Rosemary7391]

So playing as much as possible in half term isn't reccomended?

[katyjay]

Well, I can't do long practice stints on the fiddle, or I'll do myself damage again. I can't do long singing practice stints or I'll do myself damage. I'm not sure whether I'd damage myself doing long stints on the recorder and I'm unkeen to re-inflict RSI on myself by overdoing the piano.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

So what I do is this - I spend a couple of hours (possibly more, possibly less) in my music room each morning. I have all my instruments and music out, and I do short bursts on each and then move on.

So I might do five minutes' work on some Sevcik exercises for the violin, and then go to the piano and play something that will relax my hands (Sevcik makes me ache as I'm not used to them yet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). Then I might have a tootle on a recorder for a bit, then back to the violin, then sing something.......

So in total I probably do a reasonable work out on all the instruments, and by varying the activities I don't run as much risk of hurting my muscles as I might if I did a long burst on one or the other.

[Dulciana]

Well, I can't do long practice stints on the fiddle, or I'll do myself damage again. I can't do long singing practice stints or I'll do myself damage. I'm not sure whether I'd damage myself doing long stints on the recorder and I'm unkeen to re-inflict RSI on myself by overdoing the piano.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

So what I do is this - I spend a couple of hours (possibly more, possibly less) in my music room each morning. I have all my instruments and music out, and I do short bursts on each and then move on.

So I might do five minutes' work on some Sevcik exercises for the violin, and then go to the piano and play something that will relax my hands (Sevcik makes me ache as I'm not used to them yet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). Then I might have a tootle on a recorder for a bit, then back to the violin, then sing something.......

So in total I probably do a reasonable work out on all the instruments, and by varying the activities I don't run as much risk of hurting my muscles as I might if I did a long burst on one or the other.

Now that's commitment! I move between the piano, the computer and the washing machine!

[sarah-flute]

So playing as much as possible in half term isn't reccomended?

As long as you are enjoying yourself and not inflicting damage by overdoing it, I don't see the problem, BUT, it is not a substitute for regular practice the rest of the time (IMO)