Consider restructuring your practice routine to make the most efficient use of available time. Here are five tips to help create your own personalized practice plan!

1. Make a Plan 

Ask yourself the following questions:
 
What are your long-term goals? What are your short-term goals? What do you want to  accomplish each day? How do these goals align with your available time? What are some of your  greatest strengths already? In which areas of music do you want to improve in general?
  
Discuss and develop these objectives together with your teacher. Write them down, map them out  on the calendar, and create a timeline. Share your motivations for pursuing these goals with your teacher, too. They might have some more ideas that will help!

2. Listen Actively

Be mindful and curious while you practice. If something didn’t work the way you expected, stop and try to determine why, and how you can fix it. Go back and make these adjustments  before moving on. 

Don’t rush. Work slowly to solidify good intonation and technique. When we practice too fast  or without focus, we can fall into the trap of reinforcing bad habits. 

Audio and video record yourself. Recording your own playing is one of the best tools to  promote focus and active listening.  

Use technology effectively. The technology available to us today is very beneficial. Metronome  and tuner apps are available for free, and YouTube is filled with instructional videos and  professional performances we can access instantly. Yet, with all of these benefits comes the risk  of becoming distracted by text messages, social media, and funny cat compilation videos. Turn  your notifications on silent while practicing.

3. Set Time Limits

When there is only a limited amount of time to complete a task, we are often more efficient in  completing that task. Two popular techniques for short bursts of concentrated practice using time  limits are the “Pomodoro Technique” and the “Random Practice Schedule.” 

The Pomodoro Technique 

Developed by Francesco Cirillo, The Pomodoro Technique is used in many different fields of  study and business. As applied to instrumental practice, this technique suggests scheduling planned breaks between longer periods of completely focused and uninterrupted work. To illustrate:  

2+ hour practice session. Practice goals: Scales, Etude, Sonata

25 minutes: Scales
5 minutes: Break
25 minutes: Etude
5 minutes: Break
25 minutes: Sonata
5 minutes: Break
25 minutes: Sonata
35 minutes: Longer Break

This practicing method also helps you keep track of how many sessions are needed to finish  working on one piece or etude. The times and frequency are adjustable according to your needs. 

Random Practice Schedule
 
With the random practice schedule, you are breaking down your practice into very short segments and rotating among them. At first, this strategy might feel a bit fast-paced, but it is an excellent way to keep the brain active and constantly engaged. This practicing method is particularly helpful when preparing for orchestral auditions. When playing excerpts, you will need to switch from one composer, playing style, and musical era to another very quickly. This technique works best when you plan ahead. Determine which exercises and excerpts you would like to isolate and develop in one session. The times and repetitions are always adjustable to fit your needs. For further reading on the random practice schedule, see this article in the Strad.

4. Practice Performing 

Don’t forget to practice performing your repertoire! Learning how to play through a piece in its  entirety (without stopping) is essential. In the practice room, we often stop and fix a spot where  we had a mistake or a memory slip. During a concert, however, this won’t be possible.  

Set aside time in your schedule each day (or at least each week) to practice performing. Ask a  friend or family member to listen to you play through a piece. If you don’t feel ready for this yet,  turn on the recorder and play as if this is a concert.
  
If you are preparing for a recital or audition, set aside time to play through all the pieces together. You don’t want the first time you play through everything together to be at the recital itself! 

5. Practice Without Your Instrument 

Believe it or not, some of the most effective practice can be done without your instrument! After recording your playing, listen and take notes for your next practice session. This can help you isolate and concentrate on the areas which need the most work.
 
Sing or hum the music to discover the most natural ways of phrasing a melody. 
 
Study the score. What did the composer want to convey with this music? What is the harmonic structure? If you are playing in an ensemble, learn how your part fits into the overall structure of the piece. Who has the melody and when? Do you ever play the same rhythm or share a line with another instrument?
  
Watch and listen to recordings of other musicians. Try following along with the score and  understand how they are interpreting the music.
 

Effective practicing is a skill that might take time to master, but it can make all the difference in your playing. Experiment with different techniques and discover what works best for you!