Effective Practice: Five strategies for effective piano practice

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine five strategies to practice more effectively. Classical musicians, especially pianists, have to spend a lot of time practicing and it is important to make sure that the practice is effective. This paper has the following aims: to improve practicing skills and practice more effectively by developing two old strategies, memorization, and self-recording as well as, trying three new strategies, namely, the three-minute exercise, mental practice, and physical care. As a part of my research, I wrote a practice diary to document my use of these strategies so I could follow my own progress and difficulties. The results show that organized and scheduled practice sessions lead to a more effective practice.