This is a general thread.

I know each student is different, and practice depends on their motivation and goals. Also their practice will be different if they are learning their first instrument.

So let us take;


**A 5/6 year old learning their first instrument for fun.


**A 13 year old who piano is their 2nd instrument.


**An 18+ year old, in work playing for fun (maybe adult learner?)


Do you recommend different practice amounts for people depending on their age or goals?


What is the ideal (if other life things don't get in the way?)





I got asked the other day by an young 20-something (not my pupil) (with prior musical experience) how much practice it would take for them do do a grade a term. He seemed to have grade 8 clari/ GCSE. I copped out and said as much as it takes.....

and this is what I think is correct for all ages...as mushc as it takes.

I wouldn't put any time on practice. As long as each practice session has a purpose and an aim at the end. Doesn't matter if it takes 2 mins or 180 mins.

Obviously younger kids can't concentrate for that long but then they probably wouldn't be being set work that required that amount of time and dedication.

I very much think the same about exams too - you do them when you're ready. Whether that be Grade 1 at the age of 7 or 70 - you do it when you're ready - no time constraints

Play a little everyday. five to ten minutes is fine if that's all they want to do.

Try to do at least half an hour of quality practice a day but make it target led rather than strictly timed.

Sane as the previous. Explain that little and often is better than long gaps followed by a blitz.
Provide strategies like 5 focussed minutes while cooking dinner or something.

As much as it takes is a good answer. I'd also suggest that a grade a term was not generally the best plan as it could soon mean cramming the exam syllabus but having gaps in technique.

Now I have a question.
Why do people separate 'learning for fun' and 'wanting to do as well as you are able' ?
I would hope that learning for 'fun' was the first reason for taking up an instrument.

Thanks for the replies.

Sbhoa- good question.

I was very careful to not put learning for fun, and wanting to do as well as you are able.

It comes back to how you define fun, and what that person finds fun. Some find scales fun, others hate them!

I think I always assume that fun is the first reason regardless of how I phrase it. However if someone is a professional then they are not always learning directly for fun- or practicing for fun! It does help if the person finds their instrument fun, but I have known some pro musicians get bored with their instrument and really rather be doing something else- but being very good at hiding it in front of an audience!!

Another question-

Do you find that concentrating for a pratice session/lesson is something that can be built up- regardless of the age of the pupil? Or do you find that no pupil can concentrate for longer than 30 mins/1hour?

I tend to substitute the word fun for things like 'rewarding' and such like...

As to your other question I think it largely depends on the student and their desires. I teach a 10 yr old 90 mins a week and her concentration is fantastic. We spent an hour on one of her pieces last week and were both surprised how the time flew by.

Most of my student's lessons last an hour. I usually find that students adapt to this quite quickly and because they get more time with the subject they're more inclined to take it seriously - rather than a 30 min experience they have to endure each week.

Can anyone enlighten me.

I know we all have to sleep , eat, wash and such like, ...

but what exactly do people do with the rest of their time if they are not practicing piano??

Typing about it on forums it seems


Oh...and teaching of course

The advice from sbhoa is good. The only proviso I would make is this, split practice sessions up into 15 mins chunks, possibly even 10 mins. Rest (Do something else like Mad Tom has suggested!) and return. Do not over concentrate on scales and exercises, simply because with poor technique this can cause problems. This is particularly true for adults who have to use computer keyboards at work. Do advise on correct seating posture and do not let them reach up to the keyboard, rather bend the elbows downwards. Do look at alternative fingering for scales which follow the natural hand shape. If they can fit in 5 good practise days a week, they will progress, obviously every day is fantastic, but be accepting with rest days, pupils will be less defensive and more likely to turn up for their lessons.

Jane S- using computer keyboards (like now!) I guess that tightens some tendons/muscles = encourages flat hands? Any tips for battling such 'damage'? I (like many pupils and teachers) spend a good few hours typing a day!!

Thanks for the suggestions of 15 minutes rest 15 etc- and the days suggestion. I tend to count my own lesson as a practice session for that day unless I happen to have more time to get on with the work that day (which I am usually itching to do). Also useful if you get practice 'strains'- achey muscles, calluses etc

As a student who is studying for my a levels at the moment, I find that i practice usually while im waiting for something to cook, or just walkin past the piano, or just in the adverts, it all adds up i find, also sundays are quite helpful.
I don't agree that typing encourages flat hands however, as i type as i would play the piano, with the tips of my fingers.

I have a student who is in the middle of her GCSEs at the moment and when she came for her lesson yesterday, I asked her if she was finding any time to practise. She said that as soon as she gets home from school, it's the first thing she does, as she finds it so relaxing and it enables her to 'switch off' from exam work. I was delighted!

I had a ten year old explain last week that at the moment she alternates practice and school homework because she is on long division which gets her enervated whereas the piano calms her down. I was delighted - though I don't know if the maths teacher would feel the same.I have an older flute pupil who, at his parents' suggestion operates in the same way.

I'm inclined to think that practice at any age is better defined in terms of something achieved rather than the length of time spent. I have also noticed that many young children who have little idea of time suffer from parents who were brought up on the old idea of "half an hour a day" no matter the level or age. So if they can't do half an hour because of other committments they don't do any. (Like a friend of mine who once said he didn't do housework unless it included sweeping under the bed which he never bothered to do so .....)

When young children tell me they haven't time to practise I sometimes run through in lessons time what I have asked them to practise and time it with a stopwatch. They are often suprised at how little time it takes.
fFor very young beginneres I usually say around five minutes four times a week. but with older ones I rely more on achieving what I've asked for - whether it takes them five minutes or fifty, one week or several. As long as I can see evidence of progress I'm satisfied.

I also think we have to adjust the amount practice to the circumstances of the pupil. I never push too hard during a pupil's first term at secondary school, for example. It's one of several stressful moments in the course of school life. But I would make an exception if a bright first year secondary child wanted to rreally push forward.

Some of my pupils are boarders and have to squash their practice and lessons into the weekend. I think it's all very individual.

Do find the correct wrist support and mouse mat support. My husband has several which he piles up to put his hands into the correct position. Also, when typing, do try and type solidly for a max of 30-40 mins with an appropriate break, if this is possible. If this is in a workplace, try and slot in a different type of work, old-fashioned paper filing, putting paper in the copier, walk round the office etc. Also make sure your desk and chair are all at the correct height and position for you, this is as important as the wrist supports.

Also stretch, and think of yoga? There are some excellent DVDs out there aimed specifically at musicians.



It isn't flat hands as such, more the constant repitition which causes inflammation of tendons and such like. I am very wary. I only developed RSI a couple of years ago, and have curtailed lots of things as a consequence. One of my friends, not a musician, but works in a call centre for years, developed rheumatism, which in turn developed from RSI. So be warned!! Take care now, and it will pay dividends later, just because you are not aware of problems does not mean that you may not be storing up trouble for the future. I'm not trying to be scaremongering here, just trying to let people know that RSI cann affect anyone, out of the blue.

Thanks for the help.

I think eating oily fish can be good for joints too?

I have done some yoga and always find it good- it is just fitting it in/affording it/ finding a relaxing corner!!

I also agree- when I do exams I always find music very relaxing both during revision (despite my head of 6th forms instructions) and as an outlet.