Building Effective Practice Habits for Violin and Viola
As an amateur violinist, violist or adult learner, finding consistent time to practice can be a challenge. But even if you don’t have a large amount of time to set aside, short, intentional practice sessions can help you make meaningful progress on your instrument. Over time, I’ve discovered that adding structure to my own practice, like deciding when and how I’ll practice, setting simple goals, and building consistent habits has made my own limited practice time more effective. This has helped me grow, not only on the violin, but also as I’ve added viola as a second instrument.
The strategies below are the ones I use to make the most of my violin and viola practice as a busy professional with a career outside of music. They can help you make the most of your own practice time, so that each session is filled with purpose, joy, and connection to your music.
Establish a Practice Plan in Advance
A few minutes of planning helps you step into practice with focus, even when time is short.
- Plan when you will practice each day. If you are able to plan multiple shorter practice sessions daily, this is a great way to get in a little more practice time and to reinforce the skills you build throughout the day.
- Plan what you will practice ahead of time to make progress toward your musical goals. Taking lessons will help you to plan what you practice each week, but even if you don’t take lessons, deciding what you want to work on for the practice session or for the week can help you learn more music and deliberately improve your technique.
Set Clear Goals for Each Session
Simple, well-chosen goals give your practice direction and keep progress steady.
- Planning your practice ahead of time goes hand in hand with setting practice goals and aligning your practice with these goals.
- Set simple, attainable goals for each practice session, or plan a set of goals for the week. Focus on making targeted progress on segments of music, such as cleaning up shifts in a particular passage, or building new habits to improve your technique like practicing vibrato exercises every day.
Structure Your Time with Purpose
Dividing practice into focused segments helps you cover more without feeling rushed.
- Set specific time blocks for each topic you would like to cover in your practice session.
- Use a timer to keep track of how long you practice each topic.
Remove Distractions from Your Space
Protecting your attention makes the minutes you do have to practice more meaningful.
- Consider removing mobile devices from your practice space.
- Practice in a quiet corner of your home or office where you are less likely to be interrupted.
Create a Space That Invites You to Play
A welcoming corner can turn practice into something you look forward to.
- A practice space, or a corner of the room, that is always ready with your books open on the music stand and all tools you need invites you into your practice each day.
- A dedicated practice space feels like a cozy, welcoming place for you to make music.
- Practicing in the same spot daily helps reinforce a practice habit.
Build Consistency Through Routine
Regularity, whether it’s practicing at the same time each day or through short, frequent sessions, strengthens the habit of practice.
- If your schedule allows, always practicing at the same time each day can help reinforce your practice habit.
- If your schedule does not allow you to practice at the same time each day, try to schedule practice time where it fits into your day. If you don’t have one larger block of time to practice, try a couple shorter practice sessions.
More Resources for Your Practice
Sample routines and journaling ideas can help you personalize your practice journey.
- How to Keep a Music Practice Journal
- Benefits of Keeping a Music Practice Journal
- Practice Routines for Busy Violinists and Violists
Closing Thoughts
I know that finding time for practice as an amateur violinist or violist isn’t easy, but intentional steps to make practicing more inviting can make a big difference. Whether you have twenty minutes or an hour, planning ahead, creating a welcoming space, and keeping distractions at bay help you make the most of the time you do have. Progress is not always measured in hours, but also in consistency and the connection you build with your instrument. Even if you only have time for short practice sessions, you are building a musical life that belongs fully to you.
