Pick a song and a skill, and then practice in 25-minute blocks with intention.
Strategy
Pick a strategy to guide your session. Use this card for a week to understand how it works. For example:
Song | ⏱️10m
Learn a song you like. Discover what’s challenging about it. Practice a small piece until it’s automatic.
Skill | ⏱️10m
Practice a skill (a scale or technique). Do it slowly, paying attention to movement. If necessary, break it into sub-skills (smaller Chunks).
Play | ⏱️5m
Allow yourself to explore and goof off with the song.
- Inquiry: Is there a way to practice the skill with your song?
- Dynamics: Play at different volumes
- Sing what you play
Reflect 👁️
What needs further attention? What went well? Are you ready to move on from this?
Use a music journal to track what you do and any little insights you have.
Repeat 🔀
Either revisit these steps with new elements or repeat the same set in your next practice session. Stack these practice blocks one after the other with breaks (5 minutes, a few hours or a whole day) in between.
👉 Let us know in a comment how you use this strategy. Tell us about specific things you do during a practice block.
Now this makes since to me gonna try it out I am working on silent night and other holiday songs this year then find a small audience to play for and see what they think maybe lol Jeff
Hahah, great to hear, Jeff! Thanks for your interest and feedback on how you’re going to apply this. Nice goal- be lovely to hear/see you play sometime 🎶
Thank you!!!!!
Excited to get my new violin delivered from Fiddleshop.
Gonna. Be. Epic.
Sue
Awesome Sue!! Your excitement is contagious 🥳 Thanks for fiddling with us
I like this a lot – a LOT! My fiddle’s with a local luthier getting a new bridge, but I should get it back tomorrow (knock on wood), and I can’t wait to start using this approach!
That’s awesome your practising and engaging in the program, even while not having the fiddle on hand. It’s sure nice to make enhancements on our instruments. Your feedback on these sessions is greatly appreciated, Pete.