what is the best practicing schedule?

[casparma]

I practice piano at least 2 hours a day, sometimes 3 hours, but I always play that long in one turn....

however, I was wondering is that efficient?

This is what I find out..

If I play for 1 hour, from that on, I feel my memory and brain response dull alot, and concentration is loosened as well.... dont know why... however, I still keep practicing for another 1 or 2 hours....

but on the next day, the pieaces I dont play well before, I play very well in the 1st hour...


secondly, I tend to play better in the morning than at night... dont know why again...



What is the best practicing schedule that suit you well??

obviously, mine is not very efficient for me... any suggestion??

thx alot

cheers

[xvimbi]

What is the best practicing schedule that suit you well??

The best practice schedule is the one that suits you well.

Surprised?

Seriously, take those insights of yours and design your practice sessions based on them. As far as I can see, you already figured out:

1. Don't practice more than 1 hour at a time (some prefer 10-minute sessions, some have longer sessions)
2. start practicing in the morning (the brain is usually fresher in the morning)

Everybody is different, so there is no general approach. It is commendable that you are conscious about it and came to your own conclusions. Many people just sit down and do stuff without ever realizing that they are only wasting time.

Finally, there are many threads on this forum where all this has been discussed in extenso.

Have fun!

[kghayesh]

1. Don't practice more than 1 hour at a time (some prefer 10-minute sessions, some have longer sessions)

What can you do in 1 hour. If you want it to be a really productive practice session it has to be no less than 1hour 30 minutes. That is if u r taking it seriously.

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2526.msg21829.html#msg21829
(how to organise piano practise in short/medium/long term – Principle of memory retention – Principle of 15 minute sessions – stopping when you achieve your goals. Teachers should teach how to learn)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3039.msg26525.html#msg26525
(how big are your hands, and does it matter?  7 x 20 minutes – exercise/activities to strengthen the playing apparatus – ways to deal with wide chords – the myth that Richter was self-taught – 3 stages of learning – Example: Chopin militaire Polonaise - scientific principles for testing practice methods – Example: Prelude in F#m from WTC1 – when to join hands and why HS – practice is improvement – the principle of “easy” – Example: Chopin’s ballade no. 4 – repeated groups)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4105.msg37603.html#msg37603
(Does age and practice time matter? –  Summaries of the 7 x 20 approach – averages and standard deviations are given for the several numbers – need for a practice diary – how to deal with mastering something and forgetting it next day – what exactly is mastery – the 3 stages of mastery)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4244.msg39203.html#msg39203
(How long to practice – having an aim, achieving it and moving on – How to define aim)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4988.msg47452.html#msg47452
(Summary of links to optimise practising and planning)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5701.msg55639.html#msg55639
(3 principles of super efficient/fast learning)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7810.msg80415.html#msg80415
(How to organise the breaking down of a piece over several days. Examples: CPE Bach Fantasia, Blow Sarabande, Chopin Cantabile; Chopin Scherzo no. 2)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7872.msg79188.html#msg79188
(How to plan your work for the next five years)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7664.msg77057.html#msg77057
(How to break a piece in sessions – Example: Invention no. 1).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4718.msg45266.html#msg45266
(Time management for someone who wants to learn the flute)
 
Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

What can you do in 1 hour. If you want it to be a really productive practice session it has to be no less than 1hour 30 minutes. That is if u r taking it seriously.

If you know what you are doing, even 5 minutes of practice can be profitable.

If you don't know what you are doing, have a look at the previous post.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[casparma]

thanks Bernhard...

however, this link: https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4105.msg37603.html#msg37603


the links provided in the above page dont work...,

Bernhard or any one else, can you tell me how to connect to the links provided sucessfully?? because I find some links rather essential...

thx alot

[sonatainfsharp]

#1) The worst time to practice is when you don't feel like it.
#2) If you don't feel like it often, then there is another issue to discuss.
#3) It all depends on who you are: some people need to practice the same time every day, others practice for 5-10 minutes here and there, several times a day and seem to do a fantastic job.

Personally, being a husband, cat sitting, housekeeper, have a full time job, trying to get ready for my masters; I practice when I can--sometimes 6 hours a day, some times 6 hours a week. I don't personally like it, but it seems to be working, oddly enough.

[xvimbi]

What can you do in 1 hour. If you want it to be a really productive practice session it has to be no less than 1hour 30 minutes. That is if u r taking it seriously.

What, you are telling me I'm not taking it seriously  

But seriosuly, I find four 15-minute sessions with short breaks much more productive than one 1-hour session.

You probably thought I was talking about only one session per day

[bernhard]

thanks Bernhard...

however, this link: https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4105.msg37603.html#msg37603


the links provided in the above page dont work...,

Bernhard or any one else, can you tell me how to connect to the links provided sucessfully?? because I find some links rather essential...

thx alot

I have fixed it (sometimes it is not possible - but in this case there were keywords about the thread). They should all work now.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

#1) The worst time to practice is when you don't feel like it.

I don't disagree (too much). But sometimes it is part of the discipline of practice to disregard one's feelings and practice anyway. In many such cases when one does not feel at all like practising, if one does actually do the practice anyway, one often finds that that particular practice session (once started) turned up to be one of the best.

On the other hand, to agree with you, if you force yourself to practice and after 5 or 10 minutes the situation has not improved, then yes, it is better to leave it.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[thalbergmad]

On a Saturday or Sunday (when i don't have to work), i often practise for 3 or 4 hours, but usually in 4 or 5 sessions.

The only times when i exceed this is when i have to learn something and have a limited amount of time.

[casparma]

thanks...

you all people must know the free piano practice ebook by Chang.

I know practice stragegy varies from person to person..

but,

what is any one of you's opinion, whether the book is positive or not??

secondly, do you people have any idea about who Chang is?? seems like he's a Chinese.


thx for any reply

[xvimbi]

CC's book is by now pretty much required reading. If you want to find out more about him, keep your eyes open: he is a member of this forum.

[casparma]

you mean his book is required to read?? how come my teacher didn't even mention such a book??
and, what is his username??

to Bernhard,

3.      Make a rota of your repertory pieces so that you work through them intensively every couple of months (or weeks). Dino Lipatti used this approach. He knew exactly what he would practise or learn each month five years in advance. I personally don’t like this approach very much, because as your repertory grows, it takes more and more time you could be learning new repertory.

you might not feel the above quote remote,... what is a rota? I have problem understanding the above quote....


please help

thx

cheers

[steve jones]

At the moment I tend to practice whenever I feel like it. Usually about 2 hours a day, but spread out across three or four sessions. My philosophy is to be flexible, dont make it a chore. Ironically, I have never practiced more intensely than I am at the moment!

[danielle1]

Well, I play violin and piano, so I get up in the morning and do an hour of violin, then go to school. At school I play 1.5 hours violin and 1/2 hour piano. Then I come home and practice piano for another solid hour, do home work, and try to practice some more on each.
Never practice more than an hour at a time, your wasting your time, you can't concentrate for that long.

[casparma]

er...

plz refer to my previous post...

[xvimbi]

you mean his book is required to read?? how come my teacher didn't even mention such a book??
and, what is his username??

Check out https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/board,3/topic,13045.0.html#msg140152