Practicing piano

[mikkeljs]

As many have propably been doing, I have come to a kind of golden way. I just want to share it:

execute every step to perfection:

1) do nothing

2) focus on the music, which you are studying - how exactly the music should sound!

3) don´t move your hands, and imagine that you are going to play it.

4) still don´t move a muscle, and imagine that you are playing it.

5) play

I have been doing that every second of my practicing for about one year, and feel it is so fruitful and like a golden way. Perhabs it also works with other instruments! I think it automatically makes you relax, when you take it easy and start from point zero, and let the music and sound guide you, and my teacher agree.

Please if you have some other things about that subject to say, say it!   

[springrite]

Did not realised that I have already mastered 80 % of piano playing!

All kiddings aside, that sounds like a good way. That is how I coach free throw shooting. Over practicing physically without the mental part sometimes only strengthens some bad habits.

[greg]

Well, I'll have to try this out, won't I? 

[mikkeljs]

I hope you will find it helpful! 

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I'll give it a try 

I find that the worst thing I can do when practicing is think. I really need to clear my brain as much as possible before I try to play something.

[Szykneij]

Did not realised that I have already mastered 80 % of piano playing!

All kiddings aside, that sounds like a good way. That is how I coach free throw shooting. Over practicing physically without the mental part sometimes only strengthens some bad habits.

I don't remember the details, but a study was made a while back in which non-basketball playing participants who imagined themselves making free throws the night before did better at actually shooting them than a similar group that did not partake in the imagination exercise.

[mikkeljs]

I'll give it a try 

I find that the worst thing I can do when practicing is think. I really need to clear my brain as much as possible before I try to play something.

Yes, I often get stuck in an etude, if I starts thinking about using the arms and hands correct while playing. The approach should be something felt. 

[greg]

I don't remember the details, but a study was made a while back in which non-basketball playing participants who imagined themselves making free throws the night before did better at actually shooting them than a similar group that did not partake in the imagination exercise.

I wonder if they do this to awful free throw shooters like Shaq or Ben Wallace. I'm sure they've tried everything...... possibly it's because of their height, or they just don't have any confidence at the free throw line. Once, I actually saw Ben Wallace step up to the line and shoot an air ball! 

[mikkeljs]

After hours of practicing I often find step 1 the most hard one!  But I figured out, that when you are sitting and feel unable to actually do nothing, you get confused, because doing nothing should always be possible for anyone, and it feels like you cannot control your own brain work. Then a really good thing is to accept this uncontrolled activity as a part of being a pure human, and as soon as you realize that, you get spiritually calmness that take over the body, and you can do whatever you want.

[tokmik]

It really depends on your attention span and level of advancement, but here's what I tell my students...
Elementary level students (most 1st and 2nd years) 20 minutes 5 days per week.
Late Elem. level students: 3rd yrs., 30-40 min 5 days.
Intermeidate level: 4th-5th yrs. 45 min per day (at least!) 5 days
Late Interm. and Early Advanced: 45min to 1 hour per day, 5 days per week.

[Joe_Campbell]

It really depends on your attention span and level of advancement, but here's what I tell my students...
Elementary level students (most 1st and 2nd years) 20 minutes 5 days per week.
Late Elem. level students: 3rd yrs., 30-40 min 5 days.
Intermeidate level: 4th-5th yrs. 45 min per day (at least!) 5 days
Late Interm. and Early Advanced: 45min to 1 hour per day, 5 days per week.

Am I overexerting myself then? I think I've been doing 4-5 hour days (at least) for the last 5 months or so, with significant progress!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Am I overexerting myself then? I think I've been doing 4-5 hour days (at least) for the last 5 months or so, with significant progress!

If you're making significant progress, then why should you cut back? I wish I had the time and leisure to do 4-5 hours a day. As it is I'm lucky to manage 1.

One thing I've noticed though: If I purposely take a day or two off every now and then, I feel fresher when I come back, and my concentration is a little better.