Practice Tips

It's like having your Lesson all over again in your own home at your own pace. You're free to repeat stuff and jump around. You'd be surprised at the amount you'd forget you forgot.

Only Practice for as long as you're able to focus on what you're doing. If you can only do 10-15 minutes before your eyes get blurry and you start thinking about other stuff, only do those 10-15 minute and stop.

Listen to your body. A little bit of muscle soreness in the hands is completely normal because you're using muscles in a way they're not used to working. If your wrists or elbows start to feel sore and tired, it's time to take a rest. Take a day off from playing completely, and make sure to tell your Teacher. Your joints should not be so heavily involved, and so it's probably time to take another look at your technique. 

It may seem like a lot of extra preparation, but setting just one or two goals for each Practice Session can really make a huge difference. It also helps to fight against drifting and day-dreaming (Which is a very real fight!). I like to make mine on Sunday night for the whole week, and I usually make a couple hours out of the planning process. It's become ritual and is something I look forward to, and is without a doubt a motivating factor in getting me to Practice.