Practice time

[aewanko]

Help me!! Well, I'm not that desperate but still. Anyway, with increasing school activities outweighing my piano practice and some other inexplicable reason, practice time seems to be decreasing by the day. And with that, the time to learn new pieces is longer. Now a year's worth of playing had me memorized 4 small pieces. Any tips?

[Bob]

Not really.  I think the trend is to play more and more difficult stuff.  I've really been wondering if six months on one piece is worth it.  As opposed to working on several easier pieces.  Even a month seems a bit long.  Just me though.  But I have heard people critize the piano field for that.  Six months playing just one piece?  Of course you've got it memorized.  And what about all the other music out there?  That type of practicing doesn't do much for reading ability.

And the older you get, the more responsibility you get and the less time you have.  So you end up with pieces requiring more time, and even less time to do it in.  That scenario doesn't work. 

Prioritze. 

Work effectively and efficiently. 

Things like that. 

[lostinidlewonder]

Do smaller chunks of study time and spot them throughout the day. Try to make practicing the piano something you do when you wake up

[goldentone]

Set aside a fixed time every day to practice if you can, and then divide
that time into segments meted to what you need to practice.  Find out
where the unanswered time has slipped into the crevices.  

[rc]

Something you could try is to keep track of how you spend your time throughout the day...  Most people waste a lot of time on trifles, which could be freed up for practice.  Sometimes it's a struggle for me

I'll second that the morning is great.  I try to wake up 2 hours before work so I can get in some quality practice.  The mind is so fresh first thing in the morning.  The hands are sometimes tired still, so I warm them up with dishes from the night before.

I'll also second the idea of spreading it throughout the day.  I tend to alternate practice sessions with whatever random tasks need to be done (tidying up, financial stuff, things for friends/family, eating).

[chopinmozart7]

play harder pieces and more beautifaul.

[aewanko]

Do smaller chunks of study time and spot them throughout the day. Try to make practicing the piano something you do when you wake up

Almost impossible. The first thing that comes to my mind when I wake up is homework.
And because of this and my classes being held in the afternoon, I tend to practice in the evenings. When I play loudly, my mother would interrupt me and say that I should soften the volume because she claims that the neighbors could hear us but in fact not. Oh well, Is it better if I would practice at dawn?

[lostinidlewonder]

... I tend to practice in the evenings. When I play loudly, my mother would interrupt me and say that I should soften the volume because she claims that the neighbors could hear us but in fact not. Oh well, Is it better if I would practice at dawn?

I always like to practice when there is no distractions. That is usually very early in the morning or late at night before bed time. It might be a good idea for you to invest in a digital piano so you can put headphones on an play any time without disturbing anyone. It is a shame if you do not achieve what you could just because people where afraid you would disturb people with your practice.

[aewanko]

I always like to practice when there is no distractions. That is usually very early in the morning or late at night before bed time. It might be a good idea for you to invest in a digital piano so you can put headphones on an play any time without disturbing anyone. It is a shame if you do not achieve what you could just because people where afraid you would disturb people with your practice.

I AM using a digital piano(a cheap one too) but no headphones. And yeah, I get disturbed by people.  Many times when I play the trio of Chopin's Funeral March(3rd mvt.), I could never get to finish. And when they watch the TV, they deliberately louden the volume. Makes me want to throw the piano in shame.

[Bob]

Maybe move the piano or move the tv?  Or find that time when no one's watching tv.  Or get them headphones for the tv.  Piano headphones would be easiest though of course.

[aewanko]

Maybe move the piano or move the tv?  Or find that time when no one's watching tv.  Or get them headphones for the tv.  Piano headphones would be easiest though of course.

Well, I move the piano sometimes to the bedroom or to the porch(w/o the stand because we have a table there). But moving the thing is inconvenient. And it's hard to find the appropiate headphone because of its port. Similar to a microphone jack.

[lostinidlewonder]

...And it's hard to find the appropiate headphone because of its port. Similar to a microphone jack.

You can by little adapters to change the size of the headphone jack so it will fit the port in your digital. They very cheap.

[a-sharp]

My motto when time is short ...

Practice what you don't know, don't waste too much time playing things you already know or don't need (as much) practicing.

Sounds simple, but it's something I have to keep reminding myself (playing the music we can already play is so fun).

Go straight to the few sections or measures in the piece that are more difficult or that you can't play (well) and work on those when you only have a few minutes. Don't try to think of ALL that you have to do in the year at once - it's too intimidating - just like they always say - one step at a time. Do the same with memorization - memorize small parts at a time. Eventually - it will all gel together.

Good luck!!