When to practice when you have a full-time job and a family?

[bernadette60614]

Prior to having a teacher, I practiced after the family was in bed usually from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., just to relax and unwind.

Since beginning lessons with a fairly demanding teacher, I realize my mind needs to be fresh for me to practice effecitively.

For those of you who work full-time and have younger families (our son is 12), when do you find time to practice effectively?

[pianoplunker]

Prior to having a teacher, I practiced after the family was in bed usually from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., just to relax and unwind.

Since beginning lessons with a fairly demanding teacher, I realize my mind needs to be fresh for me to practice effecitively.

For those of you who work full-time and have younger families (our son is 12), when do you find time to practice effectively?

 I have to steal time whenever possible. But I do manage to get an hour, just not a specific hour, or a contiguous hour - when I was young-before-family I would practice at least two solid hours sometimes up to four hours. But being young, I was not nearly as efficient and often walked away without accomplishing anything. These days, I am going to accomplish something even if it is only for a few minutes.    Sometimes I open books and just try sight reading instead of practice. Actually, sight reading IS a good practice. I am not very good at it but good enough to discover "prosepect" pieces to practice later.

[theholygideons]

as soon as you wake up, around 6 o clock?. Naturally, that is the best time since your mind is completely clear of the drudgery of the day before and you're not tired physically. Plus, the days feel longer when you wake up early since no one can take the time away from you unlike as the day progresses.  

[j_menz]

as soon as you wake up, around 6 o clock?. Naturally, that is the best time since your mind is completely clear of the drudgery of the day before and you're not tired physically. Plus, the days feel longer when you wake up early since no one can take the time away from you unlike as the day progresses.  

That's an option if you're a morning person, or can do a reasonable imitation of one.

If you're not (and there are degrees of this - meet me at the very extreme end of not) then sometime in the evening. Can you do it when your son is doing homework, or some extra-curricular activity?  If you make an official "practice time", you have some chance of doing it, if you try and slot it in when the opportunity arises, it mostly won't.

[liszt1022]

I'm learning Totentanz right now, while the wife and baby are asleep. Good thing I'm on the digital piano.

[outin]

That's an option if you're a morning person, or can do a reasonable imitation of one.

I have never been, but I force myself to imitate one. Gradually I have began to see the benefits of an empty mind. The problem with practice before work is that I have to do silent, not so effective when it comes to tone. So it's really important to do evenings as well.

Obviously the only really good practice time I get on weekends, which might explain why I often get so overwhelmed with the task of learning new stuff for every lesson...I cannot not even imagine how someone with kids could do this...

[theholygideons]

That's an option if you're a morning person, or can do a reasonable imitation of one.

If you're not (and there are degrees of this - meet me at the very extreme end of not) then sometime in the evening. Can you do it when your son is doing homework, or some extra-curricular activity?  If you make an official "practice time", you have some chance of doing it, if you try and slot it in when the opportunity arises, it mostly won't.

how can you say that was humans we are not morning people. Have you ever tried waking up at 6 o clock everyday for 30 days straight to see what it feels like to have your body clock reversed and in sync with day and night? Until you've detached yourself from your habits and can make an objective decision regarding which one's better, you cant say for certain that waking up early is not for you

[outin]

how can you say that was humans we are not morning people. Have you ever tried waking up at 6 o clock everyday for 30 days straight to see what it feels like to have your body clock reversed and in sync with day and night? Until you've detached yourself from your habits and can make an objective decision regarding which one's better, you cant say for certain that waking up early is not for you

I have had to change my ways a lot during my work life and can say for 100% certainty that not all humans are morning people. Some people simply get more tired from sleeping. And there's also the thing about many of us having a mismatched inner length of day, which makes the brain get more active and efficient when others are feeling tired and want to go to bed...

[bernadette60614]

I'm going to start readjusting to first thing in the a.m. practice, then!  I figure if I set my alarm clock 15 minutes earlier each week I should be able to get in a full hour or so before the family stirs.

[gregh]

Can you do it when your son is doing homework, or some extra-curricular activity?

I like that one. "Time to do homework, son!" One goes to his school books, the other goes to the piano, and the son sees his father setting aside time every day to develop himself.

[fleetfingers]

I like that one. "Time to do homework, son!" One goes to his school books, the other goes to the piano, and the son sees his father setting aside time every day to develop himself.

And he will surely enjoy the background music while studying!

[j_menz]

how can you say that was humans we are not morning people. Have you ever tried waking up at 6 o clock everyday for 30 days straight to see what it feels like to have your body clock reversed and in sync with day and night? Until you've detached yourself from your habits and can make an objective decision regarding which one's better, you cant say for certain that waking up early is not for you

You are kidding, right? 

[louispodesta]

Prior to having a teacher, I practiced after the family was in bed usually from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., just to relax and unwind.

Since beginning lessons with a fairly demanding teacher, I realize my mind needs to be fresh for me to practice effecitively.

For those of you who work full-time and have younger families (our son is 12), when do you find time to practice effectively?

My late piano teacher, who had degrees from Ithaca and UT Austin, and who had a full time teaching schedule (private and classroom), used to practice from 4:AM to 7:00 AM.  I used to do theory and composition studies starting at 6:30 AM, and it almost killed me.

However, if your kids are asleep at 10:00 PM, then you should be also.  I assume that you used to be in bed by that time because that is how you got kids (I couldn't resist).

So, practicing from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM or from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, is a very good option.  This way, your mind is fairly clean, so to speak.

But, and it is a very big but, your muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints are not fully awake at that hour.  They have rested and are somewhat atrophied by that time.  So, take it slow for the first 15 to 20 minutes before you start doing the heavy lifting, OR YOU WILL GET HURT!!.

Finally, after your practice session, when the rest of your brood starts stirring and wakes up, they will notice how very attentive and loving you really are.

[mjedwards]

     Practising at 4.00 - 6.00 a.m., or late at night?  If I lived in the same household, personally I wouldn't exactly welcome being woken at times I was normally asleep - even if, otherwise, I liked the music.  And if I had to do homework or other things, background music would be highly distracting.  I can only read, write, or focus on anything at all really, in the complete absence of music, no matter how soft.  And I do wonder whether lots of people who live with a musician get heartily tired of hearing the same passages played over and over dozens of times, day after day.  I know musicians have to spend long hours practising; but I would find living with a musician quite impossible.  (I have lived alone since the age of 17, which was over 4 decades ago.)
     It's a difficult problem if you live with other people.  I realize it's totally useless advice to anyone who has already started a family: but I have always thought that it would be wise for anyone seriously wanting to dedicate themselves to music or other arts, or maybe anything in which it's very difficult to earn a living, to really consider whether having a family would be compatible with that - unless one already has lots of money, when one can buy various items or services to *make* it compatible: help with household tasks, housing space, whatever.  Pursuing an artistic career is very demanding and time-consuming, and probably money-consuming too; but so is raising a family.  The question is whether most people can do both of these adequately and to a high standard.  I suspect many can't, and the attempt to do both may for many people cripple both activities to some extent or other.  (Disclaimer: I have never married nor had a partner nor had children - so maybe my point of view is somewhat biased.  But that's how I see it.)

Regards, Michael.

[the_fervid_pig]

You practise when your 12 y/o son does his homework, or goes on his Xbox. I'm not a morning person either, getting up at stupid o' clock makes me feel ill, I practise late, usually 11pm until 2am. At 12 y/o your son shouldn't be demanding your constant unwavering attention anyway, if he is tell him to grow a pair otherwise he'll be forever tied to your apron strings.

[bernadette60614]

If he grew a pair, could I tie my apron strings to those?

I had a Roland upright electronic, so I think a.m. is a better option.  Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

[gregh]

     Practising at 4.00 - 6.00 a.m., or late at night?  If I lived in the same household, personally I wouldn't exactly welcome being woken at times I was normally asleep - even if, otherwise, I liked the music.  And if I had to do homework or other things, background music would be highly distracting.  I can only read, write, or focus on anything at all really, in the complete absence of music, no matter how soft.  And I do wonder whether lots of people who live with a musician get heartily tired of hearing the same passages played over and over dozens of times, day after day.

I understand this depends on what you grew up with. If everyone has to be quiet because the baby is sleeping, then the baby will grow up needing quiet in order to sleep. And some babies have grown up with a father who practices trumpet(!) late into the night, and grow up sleeping like a log while daddy practices.

But, yes, they do get tired of hearing the same passages over and over again.

My brother's martial arts instructor said that, after athletes, musicians make the best students because they understand the value of repetition.

[Bob]

If he grew a pair, could I tie my apron strings to those?

Sounds painful.

[the_fervid_pig]

If he grew a pair, could I tie my apron strings to those?

I had a Roland upright electronic, so I think a.m. is a better option.  Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

That's quite an image! Best of luck with it!