HOW MUCH SHOULD I/THEY PRACTICE?
I am often asked this question by parents or students. Practice amount is different for each student. When a parent of a beginning six-year-old piano student asks, I suggest that 10-12 minutes per day is reasonable. They should not practice alone but rather with a parent to help guide them. With most of my six-year-old students, I have a parent attend each lesson and work “along-side” them. In this way, they get to share the experience while their child is growing musically. The children gain reading and playing skills much more quickly and really enjoy the process. The parent also learns to play a little and so it is a win-win. Since the amount of music given is very compact and does not need intensive practice, the amount of practice time is quite short.
When a student is at about the 6th month mark and is 7-10 years old, increasing the time to 20 minutes is appropriate. Each student is different. Some can thoroughly learn the material in less time and others need more. I love when students break up these sessions into two practices as they retain more and learn faster. See my blog “Practice by Taking a Break.”
For pre-teens through adults, I recommend 30-60 minutes. Attention spans are longer and great work can be accomplished if practicing appropriately. Use your time well.
Really think about the music and work in small chunks or phrases. Adding vocal warmups, scales and/or finger exercises should start your practice session. This will add some time but will be extremely beneficial in the long run. Unless you are striving to be a concert pianist or professional singer there is no need to go beyond this. Some very talented students will want to spend a couple of hours per day if time permits. I practiced two-three hours in high school quite often. Sessions were longer in college.
Note: If you are a beginner adult, you should not be at the piano longer than 15 minutes at a time. Your hands need to build strength. If you over practice, your hands might ache. To avoid this, practice in small sessions until the little muscles in your hands get stronger.
Practicing should be enjoyable. If you are frustrated by a section, step back and study it. What is the key? How many beats per measure? Can you count the rhythm? Can you play separate hands or sing it a cappella? Do you have a command of all notes, dynamics, articulations, phrasing and fingering? In piano, it is more often than not, a fingering issue that causes the break down in the rhythm. Do not just try to sing or play through with mistakes. Your brain will remember the errors and those are difficult to break. Do not hold your breath.
Stand and take a break. Each time you come back to the passage it will be easier. Respect the process and you will become a wonderful musician.
Laurie Beth Frick