David Motto’s Practice Tip of the Week:
4 Ways to Have Fun When You Practice

It Can’t All Be Work!

Practicing music can be a lot of hard work. Mastering the technical demands of your instrument, learning challenging music, and having the discipline to practice every day require dedication and perseverance.

However, if your practicing feels like drudgery, something is wrong. Playing music should be fun.

One element of having fun is realizing that, out of all the activities you could take part in, you have chosen to play music.

Think about that for a minute.

Whether music is your hobby or your profession, you have countless other ways you could spend your time. Something has made you decide to play music. Make sure you’re enjoying this time!

If you’re not having fun in the practice room, I’ve got four suggestions for you.

Four Ways to Have Fun

1. Start and End with Something Fun:
Putting some fun songs, licks, or riffs at the very beginning and the very end of your practice session is a terrific way to sandwich some of the more serious stuff you’ll need to get done in the practice room. You’ll get fired up at the beginning, and you’ll hold onto the positive memory of ending with some music you truly enjoy playing.

2. Ignore What You’re “Supposed” to Do:
It can really be a lot of fun to forget about the way you’re expected to play and try some unconventional techniques. Go crazy! Do whatever you want. Try playing music without worrying about how you sound. Just play. Mess up some pitches and rhythms. Use bad tone. Make it comical.

3. Leave Your Serious Side Behind:
Hey, don’t be so serious! It’s actually no big deal if you play something and it doesn’t sound good. Actually, trying something and failing, giving yourself objective feedback, making an adjustment, and trying again are all hallmarks of the deliberate practice process. It’s a totally normal set of activities when you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Please stop worrying and learn to laugh at yourself!

4. Play What You Love:
Play some music you absolutely love – even if it’s not on your “official” practice list. Your practice time can’t be 100% filled with technical exercises and the most challenging section of whatever song you’re working on right now. Even better, put music you absolutely, truly love on your official practice list. That’s a great way to make practicing more fulfilling and fun.

Feeling Lucky

Sure, there’s a lot of serious work that needs to get accomplished in the practice room, but the overall feeling should be one of joy.

In the grand scheme of things, we should all feel lucky to play music. Whether it’s 10 minutes a day or 6 hours a day, playing music is a pretty terrific activity.

Make practicing music the fun part of your day.

To Your Musical Success!
David Motto