5 Practice Tips for When Practicing Feels Hard
Practice doesn't always go according to plan.
There are days when you're exhausted, unmotivated, overwhelmed with school or work, or simply haven't had enough time to pick up your instrument. Maybe you have a lesson coming up and barely practiced at all.
It happens.
Being a musician doesn't mean you'll feel motivated every day. There will be days when practice falls off, and those days don't erase the progress you've already made.
Here are five ways to get through those difficult practice days.
1. Leave the guilt behind
Maybe you slept in, got distracted, or simply didn't feel inspired. Beating yourself up about it won't give you more energy.
Practice has ups and downs. One difficult day doesn't define you as a musician.
2. Start small
Set the bar really low.
Instead of deciding you need to practice for two hours, commit to one 15-minute session. If even that feels like too much, pick up your instrument and play for a few minutes.
Getting started counts.
Often, the hardest part is simply getting the instrument out of its case.
3. Just play
Sometimes the word practice itself can feel intimidating.
So don't practice.
Just play.
Pick up a favorite piece, etude, or passage and remember what you enjoy about making music. You can return to technical work once you've reconnected with the reason you love playing.
4. Take practice snacks
Practice doesn't have to happen in one long session.
Try five or ten minutes here and there. Waiting for something to cook? Play through a passage. Have a short break between tasks? Pick up your instrument.
You can even use these short sessions to practice performing by hitting record and playing through something without stopping.
5. Ditch the negative thoughts
When motivation is low, it's easy to turn one difficult practice day into a much bigger story:
"I'm falling behind."
"I'm not practicing enough."
"I'm losing my progress."
Try not to let those thoughts spiral.
Progress can be slow. Motivation can disappear. Practice can feel hard.
That's okay. It's part of being a musician.
And remember: taking a break doesn't mean you've lost everything you've worked for. Sometimes your body and mind genuinely need rest.
You can come back tomorrow.
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🎤 MASTERCLASS with Dr. Jackie Glazier
We're looking forward to what will be a enlightening class with Dr. Glazier, Associate Professor of Clarinet at the University of Arizona, on Auxiliary Clarinets (Eb and Bass)
Sunday September 20th at 2PM ET on Zoom!
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Action: Join Club DCA where you can get a trove of resources and replays) or simply reply to this email.
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✈️ Paris in October
I'll be in Paris this October, and while I'm there, I'm hand-selecting instruments directly from Buffet Crampon in Mantes-la-Ville. If you're in the market for a new instrument and want me to keep an eye out for you (or your students) while I'm there, hit reply and let me know.
Also: Are you in Paris? Let's meet up!
Check out this factory tour reel from my last trip:
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Happy practice snacking!
Ixi & team dca
Resources:
📖 a 6-month planner for the whole musician, the → Practice with Purpose Planner
📘 A daily regimen for conditioning → Foundations Packet
🎯 The "done for you" → 28-DAY SCALE RESET
⭐️ Free stuff → Resources
🎤 Be part of a community→ Club DCA
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