How Often And How Long Do You Practice? Options

[Terra]

This made me smile as I already get up at 6 every morning, but that's to GO TO WORK! so if I had to get up earlier to practice I think I'd drop dead after a month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'll die when I have to wake up at that time of day every day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I'm taking a break today, I had string band but my fingers are sore from the other day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[DiscoPants]

I know a very good conservatoire teacher who strongly recommends that you should have one day off from practice every week.

[Terra]

I know a very good conservatoire teacher who strongly recommends that you should have one day off from practice every week.

Well I guess today is my day off then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I've taken a day off each week since I've started mainly on those days I watch other people play the pieces that I'm learning, read about improving teqnique etc. Also to let my fingers rest since on the days I do practice I do a lot.

[Jacobi]

This made me smile as I already get up at 6 every morning, but that's to GO TO WORK! so if I had to get up earlier to practice I think I'd drop dead after a month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'll die when I have to wake up at that time of day every day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I tend to get up at 0530 everyday including weekends, either to go out for a run or to the gym. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I find it is easy if you get up *every* day at the same time then it is just a matter of routine.

[Terra]

This made me smile as I already get up at 6 every morning, but that's to GO TO WORK! so if I had to get up earlier to practice I think I'd drop dead after a month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'll die when I have to wake up at that time of day every day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I tend to get up at 0530 everyday including weekends, either to go out for a run or to the gym. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I find it is easy if you get up *every* day at the same time then it is just a matter of routine.

Yeah and my current routeen includes getting out of bed at 8am. Although When I was at college it was 7. I still wouldn't like getting up that early! Can't do anything incase I upset the neighbors (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[jojo]

A lot of Sevcik is available for free here.

Thank you for this, I have downloaded Sevcik Op 8 for shifting and preparatory scales studies, for my teacher's pleasure (IMG:style_emoticons/default/muahaha.gif)

I can't wait to do the prep scales studies with him on monday, I just LOVE scales (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[bohemian]

Showed it to my teacher, he fobbed it off and started getting me to play a piece (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Is this teacher incompetent or just plain lazy? One of the two for sure, if that's their response to a pupil who wants to improve...

I think I will buy another sevcik which concentrates on bowing technique so I can do a bit of both (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Go for opus 2 part 2, and opus 2 part 4. Then you can learn wrist independence, and whole arm action (one book deals with each). Use a metronome always, go for accuracy and cleanness rather than speed. 5 mins of each book per day is easily enough. Also, get Casorti, this book is pure gold for less technically aware people as it covers every bowing technique one at a time with not bad explanations and exercises. Finally, Schradieck for LH dexterity. Same as with Sevcik, slow + metronome + clean. Perhaps Sevcik Op 8 and 9 if you're feeling keen. 1 exercise from each of those per day is enough.

[AmandaL]

I do 1-2 hours and sometimes 3 hours a day. I'm wondering if I do too much too little? Today I did a morning session (about 20-30 mins) and then my regular evening session which ran to about an hour and 20 mins.

The more the better, providing it is constructive practice not waffle.

Waffle is easy, you just muddle your way through anything for X amount of time and pass it off as practice. Practice is about really nailing down and solving the problems you have with a piece, shifting, technique or whatever.

If my pupils did even an hour a day of proper practice they would improve in leaps and bounds - I'd also probably die of shock from the fact they'd done that much proper practice.......

[lottie]

My ideal/plan, is to practice for between one, and one and a half hours, five days a week. If my husband is away at the weekends then I usually fit in an extra couple of hours so that would be good.

However, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) , I have TOTALLY overloaded my current schedule and am sitting here, ten days before an exam, having not practiced for three days! (I've been away.)

So I'm going to log-off and see if I can put my migraine to bed with some scales...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Babybird2]

I tend to get up at 0530 everyday including weekends, either to go out for a run or to the gym. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I find it is easy if you get up *every* day at the same time then it is just a matter of routine.

I get up at 0545 every day - so much for us being lazy students (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[jojo]

I tend to get up at 0530 everyday including weekends, either to go out for a run or to the gym. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I find it is easy if you get up *every* day at the same time then it is just a matter of routine.

I get up at 0545 every day - so much for us being lazy students (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

LAH LAH LAH, AM NOT LISTENING, AM NOT LISTENING

(green with envy)

[jojo]

Go for opus 2 part 2, and opus 2 part 4. Then you can learn wrist independence, and whole arm action (one book deals with each). Use a metronome always, go for accuracy and cleanness rather than speed. 5 mins of each book per day is easily enough. Also, get Casorti, this book is pure gold for less technically aware people as it covers every bowing technique one at a time with not bad explanations and exercises. Finally, Schradieck for LH dexterity. Same as with Sevcik, slow + metronome + clean. Perhaps Sevcik Op 8 and 9 if you're feeling keen. 1 exercise from each of those per day is enough.

Thank you for those pointers bohemian,
I have got opus 8 now and it looks real good (for the shifting and 3 octave scales), will stick that in front of my teacher tomorrow (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) but this time I am telling him it won't get put to one side (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[ffliwt]

I usually do an hour or so technique exercises and technical side of practising in my pieces etc... then after that i just plaaay for aslong as i like usually about another hour

[fayewolf]

I thought my lesson/practice is pretty standard, 50% etudes/scales and 50% pieces (I don't do exams, so its either out of the Suzuki books or whatever my teacher want me to work on)

I usually work on one scale a week, but it's the hardest thing for me. Major, minor 3 8ves, appregios in all shape and form, 6ths, chromatic, broken thirds, etc. Will be starting on 8ves soon.

2 pieces of etudes (Kayser and a french dude call Laoreux)

2-3 pieces

This keeps me super busy along with my orchestra stuff!

[miss sooky]

I try hard to practise daily and, if I don't manage every day, I usually manage 6 days per week. I respond much better to shorter sessions, so tend to try and do 2 sessions of 45 minutes but it will sometimes be that I practise for an hour to an hour and a half depending on life and the demands of work. I try to be good about doing scales, arpeggios, technical exercises etc for the first part of practice before moving on to pieces, or bars, phrases etc I need to work on, I always save 10-15 minutes at the end for whatever takes my fancy which is often sightreading, playing old, easier pieces or simply experimenting with sounds. I am amazed how the time passes when I practise and suspect that might be the typical experience of an adult learner with a lot of other calls on her time. Practising my cello is rarely a chore and often a joy, almost a guilty treat.