Any person who is dedicated to improving their skills will recognize the value of effective practice. It has been said that practice makes perfect. I have also heard it taken a step farther to state that practice makes permanent and perfect practice makes perfect. I tend to agree with the later two statements
This raises the next obvious question. What is perfect practice? As I have stated in a previous post, all people are different. To this I will add that perfect practice will depend largely on your personality and character. You need to develop a good program as well as effective habits.
Practice Program
Here are some helpful questions for you to develop a productive practice program.
- On a 1 to 10 scale, what priority do you give to practicing? What priority should you give to keep that good ole’ conscience clear?
- Are you most productive in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings?
- What time of day will you have the least distractions and is it at the same time of day that you are the most productive?
- How much time can you commit to practicing? In order to achieve your goals, how much time should you commit to practicing?
Next, here are some helpful tips.
- Clear your mind before practicing.
- As with everything else in life, sleep is essential to quality production. With out enough sleep, you may not only find your practice to be less effective, but you will also find that your routine may soon be compromised for less involving activities, such as the TV or other mind-numbing event.
- Eliminate or reduce all possible distractions. Common distractions include: TV, cell phone (turn it to vibrate if it absolutely must be on), and spouses, children, or siblings who are inconsiderate. One thing that I love about my wife is that when it is time for me to practice, she does not cause me any distractions and only asks me questions that are absolutely essential. Thanks, Lizzi!
- If possible, be in a room with a door that is closed. I find the closed room to get me in the mindset that this is the time I have committed to just me and my dulcimer, with nothing else to think about. Also, the closed room can be mutually beneficial to others in your abode! Your practicing won’t annoy them as much and will allow you to practice without them asking you to hurry up and finish your practicing so they can start thinking strait again!
Habits
Next, we move on to effective habits.You can have the world’s best practice program, but if you do not develop quality habits, than your practice will not be as fruitful.
Part of your practice time should be committed to studying your instrument. Places, such as this blog, will assist in increasing your understanding.There are also great books available. But do not confine yourself to studying only the dulcimer. Be a student of music. Listen to it. Read it. Feel it. Live it.
Not only should you study your instrument, but you should know what your weaknesses are and constantly be seeking to improve them. Have a weak hand? Then find practice drills that strengthens it. Lack coordination? Do not surrender to that weakness. Make it better.
In order to develop more strengths, you should always, always, always be in contact with an accomplished player (preferably a teacher if possible) who can give you an honest assessment of your playing. One thing I have found is that my weaknesses often times exist because they are blind spots. Even today, I ask accomplished musicians to give me their honest opinion of my playing. I want to know what my weaknesses are so that I can improve.
Please do not get the impression that weaknesses are the only things that need practice. Strengths do as well! One thing I have always kept in mind is that there is always room for improvement, no matter how strong a certain area of my playing is. But, you should not practice your strengths only to improve them, you should practice them to make sure that you maintain them.
Drills. Yes, we hate them. But where would we be without them? Two things I have found that many dulcimer players can stand to improve on are scales and arpeggios. Play them. A lot. Play them until your dog bites you in the leg. Just make sure he does it in your leg and not your arm… you can keep on practicing without a leg but not as well without an arm. You get the picture. Don’t ever abandon drills in your practice habits.
Allow me to leave you with a motto that I have personally lived by. I wrote it, but I am sure there are similar variations on the market.
Practice correctly. Practice with purpose. Practice to fulfill your dreams.
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