Enquiries or Bookings - As with any other new skill, developing our musical abilities is a reward of continued sustained effort. Sports science has shown us that our brain actually rewires its neurons BETWEEN practice sessions, especially when we practice slowly and mindfully.
With this in mind I always encourage students to pick up their instrument every day and to spend time repeating slowly whatever we are working on. Those bursts of practice add up very quickly into hours and hours of mindful practicing and we also get the benefit of our brains and fingers absorbing the material BETWEEN sessions.
10 minutes practice 6 times a week adds up to much more than 1 hour once a week. Pick up and play as often as you can!
Here are some practical tips that have helped students in the past.
1) Keep your instrument out of its case nearby or within easy reach of where you find yourself. If the guitar is in the car in its case there are so many steps involved in going out to get it that many people reach for Netflix instead. If it’s right next to where you are you are much more likely to reach over and pick it up. I myself place a bass next to where I eat because I know my instinct will be to reach for it after a meal and get a few minutes practice in as I digest.
2) Find pockets of time in your routine where you can practice. A few minutes in the morning while your kids are getting ready, before dinner etc. knowing when you feel creative or inspired to play can be very powerful in terms of getting the most out of your schedule and practice time.
3) Be kind to yourself. A few minutes a day will add up to be hours over weeks, months and years. The improvement will come as a result of sustained effort, the rewards are real.
