Practising - Only a Few Things Matter

A lot is written about how to practise, but in the end only a few things matter.

• Slowly is better – more often than not the main challenge is to play a piece well, not to play it fast. If you can play it quarter speed then improve different aspects until you are happy with it at this speed. Then try a little faster. If this means that you don’t play the whole piece at first this is okay. Don’t worry, it will come.

• It is better to spend half an hour really concentrating on what you are doing than two hours with your mind elsewhere. When you feel your mind wandering stop and take a break.

• If you have a concert or exam coming up, start preparing early. You can then use the time nearer the exam to play your pieces to people and become really comfortable performing – this is a different skill from playing your instrument!

• Finally, don’t worry too much. At the end of the day we play instruments because we enjoy it and we love music – never lose sight of this!