• Pick a quiet place to practice where you can focus. 

• Pick a time of day to practice and develop a regular practice schedule/routine. 

• Warm up to loosen the muscles you’ll be working. 

• Posture - THINK - Play! 

• Begin by working on the fundamentals such as scales, finger or bow exercises.

• Have specific goals. 

• Practice SLOWLY.

• Practice what you can't play and zero in on the trickiest spots. 

• Don't practice mistakes; fix them immediately. 

• Identify what you are trying to improve!  Finger, hand, arm position?  Intonation?  Rhythm?  Vibrato? Tempo?  Memorization?  Posture? 

• Campaign to SAY NO to mindless practicing! Your brain is your best teacher! 

• Listen to yourself. (Know what you’re listening for--rhythm, pitch, articulation, tone, phrasing). 

• Recall keywords used at your lesson by your teacher. (Learn to listen for those words at lesson to help you practice in the same way at home.) 

• Ask yourself questions. How is this supposed to Feel? Sound? Look? 

• Stop practicing when you are too tired to play, too frustrated to concentrate or can no longer focus.

• End on a positive note such as ending your practice session with review pieces or pieces that you can play well.  

• Practice often but not necessarily for a great amount of time! Several 20 minute sessions may accomplish more than 1 hour at a time. 

• Good practice habits will result in more productive lessons and successful performances.

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