Practicing: Motivation, Success, and Failure

As musicians, I think everyone can confess that at least once they have struggled with motivation to practice. Maybe it was a long day, you’re too tired, sick, busy with other things, afraid of what you’ll sound like, distracted, or simply just don’t feel like practicing. These are all very realistic reasons—I know, because I’m guilty of every one.

Maybe you are like me, and enjoy beating yourself up over days missed (if your music and instrument are extremely important to you, this is probably a normal response). However, I am going to also say that I believe this is an unhealthy habit. Well, unless you are a full-time musician…that might be a different story…

Anyway, I would like to propose that it is NOT the end of the world to miss a day of practicing every now and then. Look at it this way…

You’re body needs to stay fit to be healthy, which means exercising regularly. There are different kinds of exercise; endurance, flexibility, strength, and balance, and you need to do an even amount of all to stay healthy. If you do only strength training for days on end, you are going to be very sore (Believe me, pain) for many after. So to avoid that, you give your muscles a break every few days, and do a variety of exercises. Now as all analogies are not perfect, let me just make it clear that I am not saying you should only practice your instrument a few days a week! I’m saying that I believe that missing an occasional day will not destroy you, but rather, it will help you recoup. This has happened to me repeatedly. I miss a day or two of practicing, and when I return, instead of having forgotten everything, I feel more “in-tune” with my playing, so to speak. ‘Tis an un-explainable phenomenon.

     Now back to that analogy of exercising, as there are several ways to stay physically fit, there are several ways to stay musically fit. The biggest, of course, is practicing your instrument. But there are other ways to sustain the melody in your musical nature, and here are a few…

~ Listen—but listen actively. This means that the next time you plug in your headphones to blast that Dvořák (or Demon Hunter), don’t just hear it for the pleasure—although that is just as important—rather, focus on the foundations. Play one piece several times, and each time focus on a different part of it. Be able to identify the instruments and their roles. Hear how the melody, harmony, and any countermelodies are shaped independently and together. If there are lyrics, try to grasp the message, and notice how the artist uses the melody to convey that message.

~ Play a different instrument. Even if you don’t know how. If your primary instrument is guitar, go mess around on a piano, or a drumset, or your sister’s violin (with permission). And if you don’t have access to any, go to your nearest music shop and ask if they allow people to try instruments. If you have a Sam Ash near you, they are a great place to do this!

~ Read. About practicing, about artists or composers, music theory, history, whatever. But take time to study something you wouldn’t normally study, and expand your knowledge. A couple books I read last year and would recommend, for music nerds like me, are The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green, and The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin (it’s not just cello-specific, but much about Bach himself). Or if you’re feeling really nerdy, grab a music dictionary or encyclopedia and learn some new terms. Remember my friend, any time spent in gaining music knowledge is never time wasted ;)

I hope some of these can help, and you can be encouraged even just a little and know that you are NOT a terrible musician if you forget occasional practices. Just do your best to practice as much as you can, and in as many ways as you can!