How long do you normally practice a day?

[Bouter Boogie]

I just wanna know how long you guys practice a day  I practice about 2 hours a day..

Add comment if you think you need to 

[jhon]

This is already an over-discussed topic; yet, I will still answer - 6 hours (from sunset to midnight) - and a "short" dinner is my only break (at 10 PM).  I may exceed that 6-hour period but will definitely not recede.  You practice only 2 hours?  I devote almost 1 1/2 hour just for warm-up...

[quantum]

Following a conducting motto I once encountered (sorry don't remember the source).  "Conduct as much as you need to and as little as you have to."  I apply the same to practicing.  I strive to do the most ammount of work with the least amount of effort in the least amount of time. 

Usually between 2 and 3 hours.

[Bouter Boogie]

This is already an over-discussed topic; yet, I will still answer - 6 hours (from sunset to midnight) - and a "short" dinner is my only break (at 10 PM).  I may exceed that 6-hour period but will definitely not recede.  You practice only 2 hours?  I devote almost 1 1/2 hour just for warm-up...

It's not that I dun wanna practice more than 2 hours.. It's because my mom has piano lessons in the same room  I can't practice if she has students.. I'm also still in high school.. That doesn't makes it easier, does it 

[g_flat]

It depends on the time of year for me. Right now, it's summer vacation and I am able to devote much more time to practicing. I would say I generally am able to get in an average of 2-3 hours daily. That is inconsistent though, because one day it might be 6, the next none, the next 2, etc. During the school year though, I struggle to get in 2 hours per day, but because that's not always possible, I'd say I usually get in an average of one hour per day. I wish I could devote more time to it, but it just isn't possible in some cases. School gets in the way; my social life gets in the way, etc. I'll figure something out...

[solange]

I can hardly fit in any

I'm still at school

I do half an hour before school, an hour during school. and an hour and a half after school

i guess that makes 3 hourz

i also haff oboe to do, don't forget 

[ako]

I don't have time to "practice" everyday. But I do spend time at the piano everyday. I might be "practicing" a piece for an hour or two, then browse through different piano books, just  start reading music for hours. Sometimes, I would sing opera arias at the piano, sometimes I would be preparing for a rehearsal of some choral pieces for church, etc... I enjoy every minute working on music, no matter what instrument I happened to be working on.

But to get back to your poll. When I was a student in HS, I practiced 3 hours a day. I had a friend who practiced 5 hours a day.

[lagin]

I said 5, but that is my ideal which does not happen every day.  I'm very sporadic.  I will go a couple weeks doing 5 almost every day, and then a half a week slacking off.  I think I keep charging ahead, burning out, charging ahead, burning out.  Lol.  If you include doing theory, though, then I'd definately average 5.

[steinwayguy]

I got a lot of crap for this when it was a topic months ago, but I practice anywhere from 6-10 hours a day, depending on the day, usually 7 or 8 hours though.

[6ft 4]

usually little spurts of 10 mins each accounting to 2hours a day.

But if u wanna be a pro then ofcourse 6 hours or more is normal, nothing to be ashamed of its your job. and what a job it is!!!!

[mound]

Chopin would scold his students if they practiced more than 3 hours a day. If you're doing it right, more shouldn't be necessary, and if you're doing it wrong, you're wasting a lot of time.

[BoliverAllmon]

Chopin would scold his students if they practiced more than 3 hours a day. If you're doing it right, more shouldn't be necessary, and if you're doing it wrong, you're wasting a lot of time.

then he should hate Liszt. LOL

[nicko124]

It's not that I dun wanna practice more than 2 hours.. It's because my mom has piano lessons in the same room  I can't practice if she has students.. I'm also still in high school.. That doesn't makes it easier, does it 

Same here i have so much work to do from school that 2 hours of practice has to be squeezed into each day. (which is a shame) However i am finishing soon so hopefully i will get much more time to practice like 3 hours or something.

[nanabush]

Ya school is a big part, firstly no way of practicing if I'm at school, including going to and from I'm gone from about 8 o clock right until 4 o clock.  I usually do homework nearing midnight, I find I'm more focused when I'm the only one still awake, silence.  I practice before and after supper, hovering between 2.5 and 3 hours.

[danyal]

I practise in every available moment.  That usually equals atleast 4 hours. But if I can get my way, about 6-8, and on weekends more.
I'm also in school, but it doesnt bother me. If I ave a free period or we do nothing in the class (both of which happens to be very often at my school) I practise. I cant before school. Mornings arent me.
Most days, if I reckon I'm going to wasting my time at school and I could achieve more practising at home, I dont go. I'm not exaggerating, my school is really crap. But I'm not complaning and thats why I dont change, because in a better school, I could NEVER practise so much 

;-)

[paris]

hmm...this topic passed many times...

since i'm still in highschool, some days i can't practise at all.  sometimes i can 2-3 hours, and weekends bout 4-5 hours if i'm in the mood.

when i'm on vacation i practice more then during school year

[AvoidedCadence]

During the school year (at university) I would practice about 4-5 hrs daily, although I wasn't (and still am not) very effective at practising.  I would practice past midnight and get up at 7 for 8am class.  I was surrounded by piano students.   It was an inspiring time.

Now...

I'm living at home, with my family.  I work full-time at a coffee shop.  Most days I can't practice before 3:30/4:30, when I get off work.  I'm not allowed to practice after 10:30.  And I come home from work horribly tired - not really physically but more mentally, just from the monotony of not doing anything creative or intellectual for 8 hrs.  This really hurts my concentration later in the day.  Then, I'm not allowed to practice after 10 pm.  And my family likes to watch movies in my piano room (what they're doing right now  ).

So about 3 hours on average I guess, maybe less (when you factor in breaks, other commitments, listening to recordings, ...).  I need to make myself to do more.  I'm just so tired...

[prettypianoplaying]

Following a conducting motto I once encountered (sorry don't remember the source).  "Conduct as much as you need to and as little as you have to."  I apply the same to practicing.  I strive to do the most ammount of work with the least amount of effort in the least amount of time. 

Usually between 2 and 3 hours.

For those who answered that they practise 3-6 hours, what level of piano are you working on? Just curious

[steinwayguy]

For those who answered that they practise 3-6 hours, what level of piano are you working on? Just curious

If you mean people who practice more than three hours...

Schubert- Piano Sonata in B-flat, D.960
Ravel- Le Tombeau de Couperin Suite
Rachmaninoff- Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30, 1st movement

[alraydo]

I don't get to practice every day, but when I do it averages about two hours.  Right now I don't have any shows [musicals] going on so my practice consists of browsing through my repertoire and playing things two or three times to brush up. 

I'd like to start learning some new music.  When I do I will practice more diligently.

[lagin]

For those who answered that they practise 3-6 hours, what level of piano are you working on? Just curious

Grade ten RCM

[ted]

I do very little which could be termed practice. I play whenever I feel like it, which is quite often.

[paris]

For those who answered that they practise 3-6 hours, what level of piano are you working on? Just curious

Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody n.8
        La Campanella
Chopin etude op.10/1,4
Beethoven Tempest sonata
...and some other stuffs...

[cadenz]

usually little spurts of 10 mins each accounting to 2hours a day.

But if u wanna be a pro then ofcourse 6 hours or more is normal, nothing to be ashamed of its your job. and what a job it is!!!!

if you're following a dream it certainly should not feel like a job. to me the word job comes with me too much the idea of grinding away for the sake of something other than the job itself, like a wage, rather than the idea of making nice mjusic. if someone has to play the piano to earn money to look after their kids and such, well then thats okei and it could be considered a job for them should they not fully enjoy it, but otherwise its probably not the best career option unless you are insane/very passionate 

[chopet]

I used to practice anything from 5 to 9 hours a day depending on how much free time I had, and if I had a piano exam or something coming up but I did, on average, around 6 hours a day. I did have to cut way back on practice this year because I had extremely important exams in school and if I had kept practicing that much during the week I would probably fail the lot of them, and I had way less time to practice anyway, so ive been doing between 45 mins to 3 hours since around january but once the exams are finnished (next week) I will be able to do much more.....

[ako]

For those who answered that they practise 3-6 hours, what level of piano are you working on? Just curious

The repertoire I was working on during my high school years (practicing 3 hours a day) went something like this:

1. Beethoven Sonatas
2. Some concerto for competition
3. Bartok Sonata/Improvisations/Suite Op. 14 other stuff for competition
4. Chopin Etudes/Ballades
5. Debussy Preludes/Estampes and others
6. Rachmaninoff Preludes
7. Mendelsohn Variation Serieuse
8. Brahms- Op. 117, 118, etc.
9. Liszt-Un Sospiro

I had to practice because of all the competitions. I'm glad I get to choose to play whatever I want now and it's all for my own enjoyment!

[steinwayguy]

The repertoire I was working on during my high school years (practicing 3 hours a day) went something like this:

1. Beethoven Sonatas
2. Some concerto for competition
3. Bartok Sonata/Improvisations/Suite Op. 14 other stuff for competition
4. Chopin Etudes/Ballades
5. Debussy Preludes/Estampes and others
6. Rachmaninoff Preludes
7. Mendelsohn Variation Serieuse
8. Brahms- Op. 117, 118, etc.
9. Liszt-Un Sospiro

I had to practice because of all the competitions. I'm glad I get to choose to play whatever I want now and it's all for my own enjoyment!

That's a hell of a lot of rep!

[wintervind]

Entirely depends on what I am working toward (recital and such)
On average I try to practice in intervals of 1/2 to 2 hours which add up to about 3 to 4hours a day.

[rob47]

It all depends on my tendons. Sometimes I can practice heavily for a whole school year, but then after, (or just before) my final jury they become huge bitches and Im out of commision for a a couple weeks.

[c18cont]

I try to go with 3 hrs,

But...I am older and require more, at a slower pace than many younger people would use. I am retired, and have the time, and still believe in a lot of practice...(I am driving my wife crazy again.... ) I probably am getting some 2 or 2.5 hrs compared to most younger persons..even when I pass 3 hours.

I believe 2 to a max of 3 is good for many, but tough venues require MUCH more, in my opinion, and recital and concert level should see even more than that...IMHO..I have had a few friends in the concert circuit who were doing 6+ hours without fail...

John Cont

[pianowelsh]

i filed for 6! i often do alot more though either because i just really enjoy myself and totally loose tract of the time OR i have a performance deadline and i am running into the buffers so to speak! I just finished college but i used to average 5 1/2 or 6 hrs at the moment im fluctuating alot because i have no set goal some days i ve only done a couple some days ive done 8+ ( i find it depends on the weather - i practice better when its raining or cold!!). I definately come into the 3-6 hr bracket at the moment as an average i am currently working on: (hold your breath!) Bach 3 preludes and fugues, Brahms op117, Mozart cmin fantasy, Beethoven op11 trio Mozart k284 Dmaj (complete) Beethoven op110, Liszt Trans no8, Chopin op10/12 op25/2 +12, Franck Prelude Chorale and fugue, Schubert wanderer fantasy, Bach chromatic fantasy and fugue, Mendelssohn variations serieuses & Chopin Ballade 4 - to be fair some are old and some are new.  Im toying with the idea of bringing Beethoven concerto 1 and Mendelssohn Trio back up too - but all in good time  - like i said there is far too much good music!

[march05]

b/w 4 to 8 hours a day, i usually practice in 2 blocks of 4 hrs, about 7-11am and 6-10pm...

[BoliverAllmon]

i filed for 6! i often do alot more though either because i just really enjoy myself and totally loose tract of the time OR i have a performance deadline and i am running into the buffers so to speak! I just finished college but i used to average 5 1/2 or 6 hrs at the moment im fluctuating alot because i have no set goal some days i ve only done a couple some days ive done 8+ ( i find it depends on the weather - i practice better when its raining or cold!!). I definately come into the 3-6 hr bracket at the moment as an average i am currently working on: (hold your breath!) Bach 3 preludes and fugues, Brahms op117, Mozart cmin fantasy, Beethoven op11 trio Mozart k284 Dmaj (complete) Beethoven op110, Liszt Trans no8, Chopin op10/12 op25/2 +12, Franck Prelude Chorale and fugue, Schubert wanderer fantasy, Bach chromatic fantasy and fugue, Mendelssohn variations serieuses & Chopin Ballade 4 - to be fair some are old and some are new.  Im toying with the idea of bringing Beethoven concerto 1 and Mendelssohn Trio back up too - but all in good time  - like i said there is far too much good music!

that is alot of rep pianoswindler

[Paul Stefan Ort]

I don't usually practice as much as three hours daily.

I do practice two hours, however.

Currently studying:
Liszt- Transcendental Etude no. 4 "Mazeppa"
Liszt- La Campanella
Liszt- Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2
Tchaikovsky- Concerto no. 1- first movement
Chopin- Sonata no. 4 in B minor: Presto ma non tanto
Chopin- Etudes op. 25, nos, 6 and 11.

Those are the main repertoire pieces I am currently studying.

[prestoconfuoco]

here r da blockz dat i practize in each day:

4:00-6:00

10:00-13:00

15:00-17:00

19:00-21:00

which makez 9 hourz

i go to bed at lyk 22:30...... so I only get lyk 5 hrz a nite   

[llamaman]

I practise for 2 hours each day, 4-6 o clock. I have it split into 4 sections, Piece 1, Piece 2, Piece 3, and Scales etc..

[odsum25]

Right now, (during the summer,) I've been doing an hour in the morning, an hour in the afternoon, and two hours during the later evening.  I don't think it is really necessary to practice more than that- efficiency is key.  Of course, there are exceptions when I'll practice 6-8 hours a day.  However, I spread that out into 2-3 hour intervals whenever possible.

[thalberg]

Mine totally depends on what's coming up.....3 hours a day is a nice amount for a standard.  But if I'm out of school (like now) it'll be way less.  And 6 weeks before a recital, 7 hours most days is not unusual (it takes me forever to work out all the kinks).

[kellentia]

Wow, how on earth do you all practice for so long? I practise for about 1.5 hours, not everyday, but whenever I can squeeze time because school takes up so much time. I'm in school  till 6 most of the days, and there's homework to do, work to revise, so by the time its all done i barely get enough time for piano.

Just a question. How do you practice? Once you're fluent, memorised etc, do you play it again and again from the beginning to the end? Or else how do you practice shaping the music?

[apion]

I practice about 2 hours a day..

ditto   

[march05]

Wow, how on earth do you all practice for so long? I practise for about 1.5 hours, not everyday, but whenever I can squeeze time because school takes up so much time. I'm in school  till 6 most of the days, and there's homework to do, work to revise, so by the time its all done i barely get enough time for piano.

Just a question. How do you practice? Once you're fluent, memorised etc, do you play it again and again from the beginning to the end? Or else how do you practice shaping the music?

Actually up till last year I could never stand practising more than 3 hours a day. I remember reading an interview where Ashkenazy (when he's already up there & famous) said he practised 4-7 hours a day. I was horrified!!! But somewhow after I got used to it, 4-7 hours doesn't feel thaaat long anymore...

If the piece I'm learning has luckily no technical problems, I'd play it on the piano until I get it memorized, then I'd write it down of paper from memory several times, and then I'd practise both on the piano and on my mind (I can't mentally see notes on a page, instead I see an imaginary keyboard and I'd close my eyes and play it with imaginary hands.)  From here on I'd try not to play it too much on the keyboard so the freshness of the sound won't get numbed away. This is the stage where "Don't practise too much!" makes sense I think. If this piece is something I have to perform, ideally the performance should be within a week or two from this point, it'd be torturous to have to wait a month or more and keep the finished piece in "top form")

But if I came across tecnical problems on the piece, then there's a greeaaat deal of work ahead. I hope the performance is a few months away. I don't have a systematic way to overcome tech problems... I just try to attack it from as many possible angles. Play it slower, then speed up using the metronome. Play it in the dark. Play it with different fingering. Etc. Sometimes I succeeded, sometimes not - if so then I'd put it away (or smudge it up if I have to perform it) and come back to it a few weeks/months later. Sometimes the problem just go away naturally. Sometimes not.

Phew that was long... I hope someone will find it worth reading. Anyways, I'd really like to hear the method you all use to practice!

[JCarey]

I practice 4 hours usually, sometimes 5. The rest of the day I am either playing for personal enjoyment, composing, or visiting piano forums!

[rudimental]

Everyone that says that practice more than 6 hours - how do you have time to talk here then?

I practice 3-4 hours a day. But what's important is to practice with your head, think of every note, and every detail. Not just sitting and playing scales. (I dont mean to offend anyone here  )

[BoliverAllmon]

Everyone that says that practice more than 6 hours - how do you have time to talk here then?

I practice 3-4 hours a day. But what's important is to practice with your head, think of every note, and every detail. Not just sitting and playing scales. (I dont mean to offend anyone here  )

I agree I only have time to sit at the piano maybe 2-3 hours a day, but I can always play in my head. It really helps in the end.

boliver

[Waldszenen]

Two hours a day - even if I had more time I wouldn't practise more.

[jhon]

Actually up till last year I could never stand practising more than 3 hours a day. I remember reading an interview where Ashkenazy (when he's already up there & famous) said he practised 4-7 hours a day. I was horrified!!! But somewhow after I got used to it, 4-7 hours doesn't feel thaaat long anymore...

Yes, 6~9 hours is not that long anymore when you have so many repertoire to learn, polish, and review.  It's just like a typical 8-hour a day job as ordinary employees do. 

[piano_world]

well, if u play
3rd Rachmaninoff
all the transcendental etudes
Chopin 1st Concerto
Liszt 1st Concerto
and about 10 Chopin Works....

u need to practise about 8 h

[Bouter Boogie]

well, if u play
3rd Rachmaninoff
all the transcendental etudes
Chopin 1st Concerto
Liszt 1st Concerto
and about 10 Chopin Works....

u need to practise about 8 h

I can imagine that 

[Waldszenen]

I don't usually practice as much as three hours daily.

I do practice two hours, however.

Currently studying:
Liszt- Transcendental Etude no. 4 "Mazeppa"
Liszt- La Campanella
Liszt- Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2
Tchaikovsky- Concerto no. 1- first movement
Chopin- Sonata no. 4 in B minor: Presto ma non tanto
Chopin- Etudes op. 25, nos, 6 and 11.

Those are the main repertoire pieces I am currently studying.

o_O

With a programme like that I'd imagine you'd require at least five hours a day to make somewhat decent progress...

[llamaman]

How can people practice for so long. 8 or 9 hours? Is that humanly possible?