Spring Break Practice Ideas

Hi everyone!

How is your Practice Challenge going? Have you been able to practice 10 days in a row? Did you make it to 50 days? How many will make it to 100 days of practice? We'll find out soon, since we're over halfway there!

Many of you are thinking about the upcoming Spring Break and wondering how to fit practice into your vacation, especially if you are traveling. I'd like to share some general ideas with you today. Next week I'll share some advice for pianists who obviously can't take a baby grand with them to Florida!

1. Set specific goals.

Goal-setting is one of the most important ways to ensure you become a better musician. This is a good principle for everyday life, but it is especially important when schedules change (for example, going on a vacation). In your case, a current goal has already been established by the 10-, 50-, or 100-day practice challenge at Mattix Music Studio. Going into vacation with a specific goal gives you a huge head start towards success.

2. Establish a specific time.

Another important element is choosing a specific time of day to meet your goal. Some ideas:

--Reserve 30 minutes for practice right after lunch before heading to the pool. Swimming on a full stomach should be avoided anyway, so a post-meal practice session is always a good idea.
--Practice first thing in the morning. This can be a meaningful way to start out your day. Wake up your mind and body at the same time by enjoying some early-morning music.
--Practice when you have a lull in your schedule. For example, if you need some downtime after a long day in the sun, setting aside a block of time for music is a really effective way to unwind.

3. Choose "vacation music."

Why not choose some "vacation music?" For some personality types, selecting something different to work on while on vacation can be highly motivating. Our Practice Challenge is to accumulate as many consecutive practice days as possible, up to 100. As long as you are meeting your 30-, 45- or 60-minute goal, you may work on some "fun" music during vacation time. Brainstorm some new music ideas with your teacher if this idea appeals to you. This will make your practice seem different and can give a lot of energy to your practice during a break.

4. Try some "out-of-the-box" practice. 
You may already know about some ways to practice that are useful when learning notes or memorizing music. Here are some specific ideas:

a. Sing through the melody and harmony parts of your piece.
b. Clap rhythms in your music, focusing on especially challenging passages.
c. Review flashcards.
d. Work on memorizing away from your instrument. Think through the melody and tap each note with the correct fingers.

5. Remember why you're doing what you're doing. 

Anyone who studies a language quickly learns the axiom "use it or lose it." This means that if I'm not practicing the new words and grammar I'm learning regularly, I will never be able to truly master the language. Many people compare learning music to learning a language. The goal of our Practice Challenge is to provide motivation to practice the language of music each day. At the end of this Challenge, you will notice a greater fluency in how you "speak the language" of music. This increased fluency is largely because of the hours you have invested with your instrument.

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Best wishes with your vacation practicing! Keep up the good work!

Do you have any other ideas about how to fit in practice while on vacation? If you do, share it in the comments section below!