Practising effectively after a full work day

[rowanp]

I work a full day, and then am very tired in the evenings when I have time to practice. This affects the quality of my practice and I don't feel I'm making as much progress as I could be.

What would you suggest is the most effective way to practice for people working a full day.

[quantum]

Have you considered practicing in the morning, before you start your full work day?

[outin]

I always try to get some practice done in the morning before work, because after work my mind is not as it should be. I practice most evenings too, but it's much less productive.

[amelialw]

try coming up with a schedule...that's what I did since I have a full time job and still intend to return for further studies. I follow it at least 85% of the time and it seems to work

[lojay]

@Rowanp: I think you should address the fact that you're mentally drained.

When I went to school full time (14 hours on campus with 2-5 hours of class and the bulk of the remaining time studying usually really dense, head banging material) I would be too mentally exhausted to practice when I came home.  In my case, it was too late to practice anyway (I got home around 10pm), but I think I understand how you feel.

If I were to practice after a long mentally exhausting day, I would do one or more of the following:
1) Have a cigarette.  If I don't smoke for 5-6 hours and then have a cigarette, I have a tendency to get really focused.  This focus usually only lasts for like an hour tops though.

2) Beat one off.  I sh*t you not, this has worked several times before when I've crammed.

3) 30-40 minutes of cardio and then shower.  A few hours after cardio I feel much more mentally alert.  On the other hand, I usually end up passing out 5-6 hours later (especially if I do some really intense HIITs).

4) Take some adderall.  I don't have ADHD, but this is the most efficient and effective method for me.  I get a crazy urge to get everything done after taking adderall.  Usually after I finish all my work I end up cleaning the house (I never do otherwise).  I've used this to cram for exams countless times and have recently used some when I practice for really long periods of time (6+ hours).  I do have to warn you that using adderall can definitely backfire.  Adderall only backfired on me once where I couldn't sleep for about 15 hours and ended up passing out 2 hours before my exam.  Luckily my professor gave me and INC and allowed me to take the final a month later.  Besides that I'll occasionally (about 20-30% of the time) get minor headaches, but the urge to get everything done is so strong and the increase in my concentration is so great, the headaches are worth it.

I also find what I eat/drink greatly affects how I feel.  I try to avoid caffeine because I get this strange awake but tired feeling that ultimately makes me less productive (especially later in the the day).  After I eat heavier foods and bigger meals I become mentally very lazy.  I don't know why, but when I cram the only way for me to stay focused is by eating raw/lightly cooked vegetables and fruits and drinking a lot of cold water.  If I felt that I wasn't progressing because I was mentally exhausted, I would probably go this route for dinner.

[Bob]

I've got a few posts on fatigue.  Nothing surprising. 

Build up endurance in the long-term.  Be healthy and smart. 

And make some coffee.

And use some willpower.

Don't work so hard.  And don't worry about it.  Save some energy for the end of the day.

[drazh]

I play piano at least for 1 hour early morning before work

[karenvcruz]

My practice habits may be a bit outrageous. I also work full day but since I realize I need to practice everyday, I have managed to have this type of schedule:  I arrive at around 6 or 7 pm. I rest and have a nice dinner, then take a 20-minute catnap.  then, I prepare coffee and watch YouTube documentaries of classic composers like Mozart, Beethoven etc., made by BBC. I also open the pianostreet Auditions sections and look for pieces which may have been played by members here.  I do this to inspire me while taking coffee.

I start practicing by 9 for at least two to three hours. I sleep at 12 midnight.  I go to work at 8 am.

Someimes, when I am too tired, I just spend 1 hour just to workout my fingers.

It is during weekends that I become more intensive.  Somehow, watching others play the piano in YouTube or listening to the recordings of members in pianostreet have truly helped me a lot.

When my partner joins me because she is taking voice lessons, we tend to practice together. e tend to become hyper and practice till 1 or 2 am.  I know it may sound ridiculous to  practice at late nights but we notice the quality of our practice is better perhaps there are disturbances, distractions and interruptions.

[jknott]

i do bach/mozart in the morning, liszt/chopin/brahms in the evening.  can't get into the romantic stuff first thing.

[myriadwhims]

If the work is mentally taxing for me I have to do it in the morning.  Absorbing new pieces, memorizing, sight-reading practice.. It only happens when I'm alert enough.  I work on technique and trouble spots in the evening.

[iansinclair]

When I was in college -- which seems ages ago now -- I wasn't a music major (silly me; 20-20 hindsight) and had the usual college problems; not quite the same as a full time job, but not wholly unlike in terms of the end of the day feeling.  I used to practice very late at night -- say 11:00 PM or so -- for a couple of hours.  I had the use of the big chapel organ (I was an organ student) then, rather than one of the practice organs, which was great, and no one bothered me at all.  In later years, when I had a full time job and was also a church organist (before I got a full time job as that!) again I used to come home, have dinner, see the kids to bed -- and go out and practice late at night.

It usually took me half an hour or so to really get into it before the practicing started to become effective, but once I did it was excellent, as there was a feeling of me and the music and the instrument and nothing else to worry about.

For myself, at least, I can't recommend drugs or stimulants -- even coffee -- although I did then, and do now, smoke which helps my concentration (but I don't recommend smoking!  It really isn't all that good for you...)

[bounced]

As others have said: coffee.  Drink a little right before leaving work or as soon as you get home, and then around 6:30 you'll probably be ready to make some headway. 

Also, keep it fun!  You're not practicing to make this a profession, you're doing it for the enjoyment.  So focus on the aspects of piano playing you enjoy best.