Q&A: How do you stay motivated and disciplined to practice?

Q&A: How do you stay motivated and disciplined to practice?

Advice from teachers on making your practice routine sustainable and fruitful.

1. Start with goals

Ambitious, sometimes stretch, aspirations push us to be great. Piano instructor Elina Christova uses this to her advantage by, "pursuing challenging projects to keep me motivated. If things get too comfortable then I know I need to turn it up a notch."

This can be daunting so it's important to make your goals into manageable pieces. Viola teacher Catie Longhi shares that, "I tend to get overwhelmed when I know I have an upcoming audition or performance... On top of a busy schedule, it's easy for me to not work efficiently because of the stress! I try to set small goals in every practice session so that I'm encouraged and have a finished product (hopefully!) to be excited about each day. These small accomplishments keep me motivated during what can be an overwhelming time!"

2. Make a to-do list, prioritize it, and then add it to your calendar

Gobs of research tell us that when you set a time and place for yourself to do something, you're both much more likely to do it and you'll get it done in the allotted time (read: efficiently). Determine what specifically you're going to practice by adopting cello instructor Griffin Browne's strategy: "I plan each day with a to do list when there are too many things to keep in my head. Then I prioritize them and work toward the most important goals first."

Piano instructor Elina Akselrud keeps focus by, "every day asking myself the following question: 'What do I want to do the most in my life?'"

From there, make a commitment to yourself by determining the specific time and place when you will work toward your prioritized outcomes.

3. Stick with it and track your progress

Sometimes, you need to give yourself a quick kick in the pants through good old fashioned discipline. Bass teacher Nat Baldwin shares that the secret to his success is as simple as, "I wake up early and get to work."

When you find that you need a bit of a boost to be able to do so, try tracking your progress. Broadway singer and multi-instrumentalist Natalie Bradshaw shares, "I stay motivated by keeping a weekly journal of my practicing. I list 5 things I did well and am proud of, 3 things I want to really focus and work on, and 2 things that I'm disappointed with. This allows me to really focus on my goals, but it also keeps a record of my progress. This is important because acquiring technique is often slow and gradual. Keeping a record helps me to realize just how much I've actually improved."

4. Make your practice sustainable in the long term by pacing yourself and remembering to recharge

Griffin Browne adopts a don't-bite-off-more-than-you-can-chew approach by saying that, "you have to slow down enough to fundamentally change your playing."

Piano instructor Kyley Smith flipped the script between work and play. "It's therapy for me. I enjoy playing daily to relax," she shares.

Our minds, bodies, skills, and creativity are all linked. Hidustani guitarist Dave Cipriani uses "meditation and yoga to help me touch into my feelings."

5. Draw on your inspiration

You love music (as do we); don't forget to appreciate its beauty and complexity to inspire you to continue to strive for greatness.

Guitar and saxophone instructor Adam Littman looks to other artists for inspiration. He says, "If I don't feel motivated, I watch videos of any musician I'm into at the time, and keep watching until I'm inspired."

In a rut? Figure out what is powerful to you about music. Cello teacher Kirin McElwain keeps motivated by remembering that, "music inspires [her] because playing and performing help [her] feel connected to other people and the environment."

6. Bring in a buddy

Sometimes the best motivator comes in the form of an accountability buddy. This can be a teacher, a friend, a student, or someone else that will keep you going (and honest).

Multi-instrumentalist instructor Jeff Moore says, "Everyone struggles with their craft from time to time. I've always found my students, clients, and other musical friends to be a constant source of inspiration. Whether it's helping someone work through a tough topic during a lesson, prepping for a concert, or just a late-night jam session, the people around me never cease to amaze me."

Brass and woodwind instructor Andrew Balettie gathers motivation by, "seeing my students play and learn - and they always do."

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