Having the right space to practice in is another way to capitalize on your efficiency. Keeping your tools handy, being free of distractions, having a comfortable environment, and organizing a good plan will make the most of whatever time you have available to practice.
Creating Your Space
No matter where it is: spare bedroom, office, basement, etc., the more of your practice tools you can leave handy, the more likely you are to practice. If your instrument is near a chair that puts you in a comfortable playing position and everything you need to practice is readily available, you’ll be able to get right to work plus have a visual reminder. Since guitar is my chosen instrument, I have an armless chair with a back support, music stand, metronome, and practice materials in one spot, ready to go. Close by is a low-wattage amp with a cable, a laptop with my music library, play-along tracks, DAW, audio interface, speakers, and whatever else I may be working on. That way, I’m ready to practice or rehearse anything with minimal fuss. I also like to keep a set of headphones handy if something I’m working on requires a detailed inspection. However you like to work, make a space that invites you to practice.
Distraction-Free Zone
Uninterrupted practice time is tough to come by. Whether it’s family traffic in the house, phone calls, texts, emails, social media, TV, or the dog needing to be let out, finding time and a place to be left alone long enough to get in your practice time needs its own consideration. Consider not only the best time of day for you, but those that depend on you. Trying to practice when you know that you’re needed somewhere else will ensure interruption. That being said, sending a clear message to everyone that you need time to practice and you’re unavailable during that time will keep you from being interrupted, plus it’s courteous to everyone else. If you play an electric instrument, this is another great use for headphones; “headphones on” means “I’m busy.” A point that’s almost too obvious but must be said is to put down the smartphone. Silence the ringer, airplane mode, whatever it takes, nothing interrupts the flow of practice like the ping of a new text, email, or Facebook notification. Computers and tablets can also be excellent practice tools but don’t be lured away from your prime objective by web surfing. There’s plenty of web-time before and after practicing.
Have a Plan
A friend of mine who is a diver says, “Plan the dive, dive the plan.” Make a plan and follow it to ensure results. Set a goal — such as having a particular song performance ready or learning two-octave augmented triads in every key — and create steps to get there, evaluate your allotted practice time, apply the steps, and finally, follow it through. The plan is for you alone, so tweak it whenever something isn’t working. It’s easy to over-estimate your available time and progress rate so start conservatively. I like to write out the details so I don’t have to try to remember where I left off or what’s coming next. Any kind of log or journal will help you keep track of your progress and it can be as simple as a few notes on a piece of paper. As with anything else, you’ll eventually get better at planning practice and more importantly, you’ll be achieving goals and improving at music in general — which is why you practice in the first place!
Get your practice space together and your time organized for super-efficient practice time. That way, you’ll be motivated to practice more and you’ll get more out of each session.