i reckon people here do play a great variety of instruments...............but how can you all manage your time to practice them, and at the same time, not giving up your study or career whatever it is? i learn 2 instruments, my teachers always ask me to practice my instruments 1.5 hrs a day, and i always find it very hard. so it ends up i dont practice both instruments very often, and i feel that i'm not good at either of them. my dad always says its good to keep focus on only 1 instrument, and try hard to play that well. is that true? or is it better to try more instruments, no matter i play them well or not?

Every person is different. Some prefer to concentrate on one so your dad may well be right whilst others prefer more. You will have to consider your own preference. However, if you love music, you'll be able to find the willpower and then the time to practise. Common times/practice are/is to wake up early in the morning and put in one hour just before school and then later do one hour again right after school just before winding down or if you prefer to do your homework first, then the 2nd lot of practice/hour can be found just before bedtime. That way, you can have 2 half hour slots for each instrument. How about that?

Yes, try breaking up your practice sessions instead of doing 1.5 hours straight...

The number of hours you practise should depend on your playing level as well...but I would think 45min-1hr every day should result in steady progress,right?

How Do You Guys Manage Your Time?

I have a little gadget called a clock (and a portable one called a watch for outdoors).

Seriously, I'd guess most people have a main instument and learn others. Your dad is probably right about focusing on one instrument at this stage but don't let that deter you from starting or practising another. If you eventually like it more, change your focus to that one.

Just from reading posts, many forum members play the piano along with a string, woodwind or brass, perhaps several. But if your time is limited, concentrate on the one you like best or you've progressed with the most.

Hey there- I find fitting in practice EXTREMELY difficult these days. I left music college, having practised an average of an hour a day (ooops naughty me!!) but now im lucky if i have the time for an hour a week....or a month.... but then doing a PGCE was a bad move!! So much work I dont think ANYone could do practise at the same time!

When i was still at school I also had 2 instruments on the go but once I got my Grade 8 piano, my flute became the priority and I tried to do an hour a day when studying for Alevels. Mind you I did "waster" subjects so I didnt really have too much work to do!!!

Practice when I can, but when I do make it focussed practice.

On very hectic days or stressful days like the run up to A-levels, concerts and things I get each morning and plan my day literally by the minute and make sure I stick to it.

I just practice whenever I can fit it in after I've come home from school, even if its just ten minutes I just quickly do some practice.

It depends on what you want to do - if you really want to get fantastically good at an instrument, then yes you do need to concentrate on fewer and give them more time (some people manage several, but usually most people can manage one main one and have maybe one or two others which they study less seriously), however if you aren't incredibly bothered about getting to the highest levels on any in particular then it can be a lot of fun to have a go at and get reasonably good on several. It also depends on how you're getting on with your first ones I guess - some people need a lot of time just to get to a reasonable standard on one (for example I don't think even several hours practice a day would turn me into vengerov or kennedy or something!), and some people also find one instrument easier than another. Usually, though not always, those who have got to a good standard on one instrument will find it's easier and quicker to pick up the next.

I play two instrument and find it easy to manage both instruments at once. But I mostly focus my prcatising on my main instrument-piano although I am still good a bass

Used to practice like mad for all my piano exams (1 hour before school and one hour just before dinner) and one hour each day when there are no exams. But have not been getting much in for piano now that I'm teaching. One hour a week is a luxury! Have been putting in an hour a day for my violin though and now almost two hours (with short breaks here and there) since the exam is in 4 days!

Now that *is* talented

When it comes to practice its not quantity, but quality that is important. If you practice correctly and effectively 30 minutes is more useful than someone spending an hour just playing pieces rather than practising them. Remember, every little helps and when you are pushed for time it is better to spend a little time working on a section of a piece for example than trying to play through everything. Ask your teachers for advice on how to practice.