How to stay accountable with piano practice
We all know it’s true: there’s nothing like a regular practice routine to accelerate your progress at the piano. But of course, creating and maintaining an accountable practice routine is much easier said than done.
I’ll share with you my top 3 recommendations to help make your practice routine stick – so that you get the most out of your time at the piano.
Schedule your practice
If you’re anything like me, keeping up with appointments is a constant juggling act. Work meetings, family events, errands…it’s never ending. In order to keep it all straight, I rely heavily on my calendar to set aside the time, avoid double-booking, and just keep track of it all.
We place a lot of value in the appointments we keep, so of course we take the time to schedule them. So why don’t we do the same thing for piano practice?
Take some time at the start of each week to block off some time in your calendar for practice. Not only will you be more likely to stick to your plan, but I promise that just seeing “piano practice” on your calendar will help you to reserve that time as new obligations inevitably pop up.
This is an especially effective strategy for busy adults with schedules that change day to day, and actually one that I continue to use myself!
Book it!
Your practice time deserves a spot on the calendar.
Set Weekly Goals
No matter your experience level with the piano, your progress will inevitably plateau a bit from time to time. That feeling of slowing progress can lead to discouragement, which in turn can interrupt an otherwise solid practice routine.
If this is something you’re working through right now, I recommend setting a weekly practice goal and tracking your progress towards it in a journal or habit tracking app.
You could try setting a goal for the number of days you make it to the piano each week. On the other hand, you might set an overall goal for the total time spent at the piano during the week and fill up a progress meter as you’re able to squeeze the time in.
No matter how you do it, the most important thing is to check in weekly to assess the progress you make towards your goals, and in turn to reevaluate them and adapt accordingly.
Habit Stacking
When starting a new routine, or rebuilding one that slipped away, it’s no secret that consistency is key. That being said, we can shortcut that process by stacking a new routine onto a preexisting one – a strategy that’s simply called habit stacking.
For example, if you’d like to develop an evening practice routine, you can try going to the piano immediately after something that’s already in your routine, such as cleaning up the kitchen or putting the kids to bed.
Before you know it, you will automatically move from the first habit to the next, and your piano routine will be an effortless part of your daily flow.
Do what works for you
And as our daily lives continually change, so do our routines, our schedules, and our motivations for coming to the piano. It takes some experimentation to find what works best for you, but the most important thing is to just keep trying.
Let me know if these accountable practice ideas spark a new routine for you, and happy practicing!
Additional Resources
• Everything You Need to Know About Habit Stacking – Cleveland Clinic