How Can I Stay Consistent with my Violin Practice?

The thing not everybody knows is that playing the violin has to be very consistent. For professional players, it is, as we like to say, "a full-time job"! Violin students have to play every day to succeed at the exams and for the soloists, it's a vital thing to practice as much as possible.

But what about people who want to do that as a hobby? Is it a "full-time job" for them too? Is it necessary to be more present in the practice session than in your day-to-day job? Of course not! You should never play an instrument if it becomes overwhelming and time-consuming! The fact about music is that playing should give you joy!

But how can we make practicing the violin into an activity you can do every day and at the same time not consume too much of your time and soul? How Can I Stay Consistent with my Practice? By practicing SMART! Let's break it down, what is it about?

• To practice smart you have to get over the urge to play again and again, it will never help and you will be trapped forever in the same stage! Leave this phase behind and use your smartness. Instead of repeating it twenty times a phrase, practice it just three times, but good.

• Specific goals are clear and precise. Instead of a vague goal like "get better at playing the violin," a specific goal might be "master the third movement of Beethoven's Sonata No. 9 by the end of next month." Okay, maybe not that, but you understand what I'm saying, being more specific will help you A LOT!

• Setting a deadline adds a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused. For example, "playing those 3 measures perfectly after 10 minutes of practice" provides a clear timeframe. Ad if you can't after those 10 minutes, no problem! Add another 10 minutes. Keep a record of your practice sessions and track your progress toward your goals. This can be done through a practice journal.

• Practice what you think can help and bring more natural movement when you play your repertoire. Do you have a concerto in D Major? Practice the D Major scale, are you struggling with your sound being not clear enough? Do articulation exercises. It will make your practice session so much easier if you actually practice what you need to!

• Choose to practice technique when you don't have that much time. We know your life is busy, and playing the violin doesn't have to be a stressful thing. We assure you that if you practice 15 minutes of technique exercises in a day, you'll see more improvement than playing the piece 3 times. Look at this as a way to disconnect yourself from your problems or stressful situations, and give yourself those minutes to be with you and with your violin, focusing on your improvement!

• Look at your score WITHOUT THE VIOLIN. Yes, you'll thank yourself if you do that more often because analyzing the score will save A LOT of your time. Actually knowing and making connections will give a sense to the notes you see. That way, when you play with your instrument, the score will not look so strange, it will be familiar!

By embracing the power of consistent practice, you're not only honing your technical skills but also nurturing a profound connection with your instrument. Let consistency be the compass that guides you on this musical journey, leading you toward an amazing world, the world of sounds!