Music Practice & Discipline

When I think about discipline, I suppose what comes to mind is a routine that balances home life, family, job or school. In order to keep everything running smoothly, order is in place rather than chaos. Discipline is: following through with commitments; always be trustworthy; finding time to meet everyone’s needs; turning in homework or reports on time; not being lazy; establishing a time (routine) for everything important.  I could go on and on. Most people struggle with this balance. However, study after study has shown that MPBD “music practice builds discipline.”

From my perspective, discipline for me happened organically. Day after day, year after year, I would practice and then start my homework. This became my routine. It became part of me. After I left for college at age 17, I had morphed into a disciplined person. I thank my mom for encouraging and supporting me. Without her gentle reminder to “go practice” and her always telling me how much she loved to hear me play or sing, I am not certain that I would have accomplished as much as I did.  As a kid you are pulled in so many directions. I am glad that I was pulled toward the right one.

Practicing takes concentration and mental discipline. It is hard work that takes many, many hours of concerted effort. Learning to play or sing at a high level is a slow process. However, it gets easier and easier and more and more fun. You find that you can get your hands working together. You can figure out the rhythms. You can play or sing those triplets evenly. You can play those chordal patterns or sing those large jumps.  Over and over, you chunk those musical sections. Over and over, you finger those passages hands alone, then together. Over and over, you practice your technique. They say it takes 2000 hours of practice to become an expert in a subject. Those 2000 hours of music practice also develops discipline. Every hour counts.

Discipline is built one day at a time, one song at a time. “MPBD”

To all parents of budding musicians, remember the best thing you can do is support and encourage your child. Music has so many positive effects on all of us. (Building self-esteem, increased mental acuity, math and reading skills, and of course, it builds discipline.) You can help magnify those effects by being involved. Listen, help and support your child’s music study. They need your encouragement!

To any adult reading this, continue to practice your craft. and/or start to grow as a musician. Dig that clarinet or trumpet out of the closet. Dust off your piano. Practice vocal warm ups and sing those songs that you love. Take lessons!  It will help you de-stress and recharge. Not to mention that reading music keeps your brain healthy and active. My next T-shirt is going to read:

“Music Study is a Natural Alzheimer’s Deterrent”

Laurie Beth Frick