Commit to doing one thing better.
That's it: one thing! What is the one thing you want to have accomplished today at the piano?
We can easily over-complicate things as adults. We think we need to come up with a warm-up routine, or read through a whole piece from start to finish before we start practicing, or…[fill in the blank]. But often we just need to commit to doing one thing better.
I must admit: my summer was not filled with much practice time at all! Instead, I spent time with my three teenaged daughters, taught piano lessons, worked on some product development, and spent time evaluating and honing systems in my music studio. So when I returned to the piano last week, I had some decisions to make! What music do I want to study this season? What performance goal am I working towards? Which piece will I work on first?
I picked up some music that has been lying dormant for a few months and returned to it: Liszt's Jeux D'eau, Debussy's Sunken Cathedral, various Chopin pieces, a Bach suite, a new piece by Heino Kaski… And as I've been reading through, I've started noting what needs work! Some music needs harmonic analysis, others need slow work and decision-making about fingerings; another piece needs to be committed to memory because there are too many awkward jumps; still another piece needs technical work.
I pulled out my practice journal again and wrote down what pieces I'm working on this year, and then made a short list of what I need to do next. I love doing this because it gives me a focus. The next time I return to the piano, I'll know exactly what to start on. Whether I have ten minutes or an hour, I will be able to grab a piece, start working, and accomplish something because I've made a note of what specifically needs work.
Whether you are working on music for your personal growth, a performance, or just to keep up with your students, try keeping track in a notebook or on a piece of paper what you accomplish each day and what you want to work on next. Be specific. Write in measure numbers. Tell yourself what needs work. Be your own teacher.
Little gains add up to big wins. Do one thing better today!
For more thoughts on practicing, see:
Using a Practice Journal for More Effective Practicing
Always Be Prepared: Three Songs at the Ready
How I Memorize a Piece of Music
How to Prepare for Accompanying an Instrumental Sonata (or Concerto) Quickly
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