The Three "P's" in Practice and Music time

As an adult learner I have learnt that time is the most precious, limited and most needed commodity there is.

And if you're life is anything like mine. Your to do list surpasses your day. Here are the three P's that helps me in my days. You can apply this concept to anything that is important for you.

Plan your time. The key to not wasting time is knowing how much you have to devote at any given day consistently. It can be 5 minutes in intervals or an hour fixed a day. Whatever it is, make sure you carve and schedule this as you would any important appointments and plan to be present and engaged. Don't let distractions take up these precious times. Plan what you would like to accomplish for that session. Is it one skill? One phrase of music? Going over your repertoire? Whatever it is, do just that. If you have more than the allotted time, do the extra things then and not allow these to take away from what is needed for that session. These days with back to the office for me, my alloted time to play and practice is 20 minutes at 8PM and 5 minutes on my lunch break daily. It doesn't sound like a lot but focus time is magical and I find that I retain more because I'm fully engaged in what I planned to accomplish in that day.

Practice - they say practice makes perfect but it doesn't. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Take the time to practice a skill or a phrase slowly and correctly. Try not to speed things up and let impatience take over. Slow and steady wins the race. If we rush through and practice things incorrectly those wrong movements will be harder to correct later. It is far better to slow it down and play it correctly and build from this. This is far more efficient and we gain much more real progress this way. An added bonus for me with taking it slow is that it meets my needs to unwind, de-stress, and breath. It so healing for our minds, body and spirit to simply slow down and relax. 

Peace is an integral aim in my days including my playing. Being an adult learner, I know I have less skills and less experiences than many musicians less than half my age, so I don't compare myself to others. I simplify and take pleasure in the joys of the moment and give my self the due credit for knowing more than I did yesterday. I am happy to have this time for myself and my music and don't allow negative thoughts to linger on. I let them go as quickly as they came and allow grace to take over. Taking judgement away and replacing it with gratitude and appreciation is a much better spend of energy. I am doing what I love. I am taking time for myself.  The little skills I am developing is moving me forward to the direction of my dreams and purpose. It is the same with you. Be thankful and proud of how far you have come. Be at peace, cheer and nurture your little achievements the way you would a babe learning to walk. Each step is precious and celebrated with joy, assistance and encouragements. We would never think to discourage a precious little child or any love ones, we need to treat ourselves with the same love and courtesy 💕 

If we can love ourselves truly and be at peace with who we are, how much more wonderfully we can love and be a blessing to others. 

My practice and music time is something I see as filling my cup of joy, I pray it is for you as well. 

xo Sharon