Practice Schedules - Work & Play

I keep reading about my students work out schedules... which is great :-) It makes me wonder about their Flute Work-out schedules? We all need to inspire and motivate our self to practice. I will write about that too... For now select a workout for your practice and do it! You can change it. Most important is that you give this time to your self!  Play with each work out you choose and bring your practice and music making to life!


A few Questions to ask are:

1. What is my daily schedule? How long am I going to commit to practicing?

2. Can I practice in 3 or 4 sessions, 2....? or do I only have the morning or evening? or early and late? 

3. Am I more of a morning or evening practicer? 

4. Do I have a lot of flexibility in my life schedule right?  

5. Do I just need to make a schedule and stick to it? 

6. What do I need so that I am practicing everyday in an effective and joyful, playful, productive way?

7. Am I thinking that I will get to this schedule stuff, but really I do not and need to do this now :-) ?

What kind of schedule do you use to help yourself? How do you devide your time?

Some of my favorites are in my Practice Ideas.  5 and 7 Part Recipes for Practice. 

5 Part Practice

  This Recipe takes 65 minutes of Practice :           Have more than 65 min.’s to practice? Yes!

                                                                                                 Practice on the part that needs it the most!

   1. Preparation: 5 minutes                                                  Examples are: a difficult piece, lots of 

                                                                                 music to learn, improving your tone, working

                                                                                                on a particular technique - like multiple tonguing:    

   2. Tone: 10 minutes                                                            then spend more time on that part of your Practice.

   3. Technique: 10 minutes Remember: A very important part of your musical

                                                                                                   education is to listen and study your music.

   4. Etudes: 15 minutes

   5. Repertoire: 30 minutes Great Practice + Great Musicianship =  Great Performance

 7 Ingredients -  Practice Recipe

  Creating a recipe for creative practice?

  Use Inspiration, Organization, Creativity & Action to create your recipes and maps.

  How are you going to divide your time to manage this?

  Create a practice plan and a motivational map.

  Remember: When creating maps and plans, begin with a goal that will have positive results!  &  Spice it up!

 1. Body - Mind - Spirit : Stretch and breathe -  organize and focus - be present and positive.

 2. Tone: Have a daily & weekly plan. Do not bore yourself! Work on something different & specific each day. 

 3. Technique: Create a daily & weekly plan. There are so many to choose from, do it... and invent your own too.

 4. Music, Solos, Orchestral, Ensembles: What are you learning? What is a priority? Divide your time wisely.

 5. Studying and Listening to your music: This is a very important and productive part of your practice time. 

 6. Record and Video your practice, lessons and performances: Do it at least once a week!

 7. Perform and play for people: Make a habit of playing for someone once a week. Share your love of music!