Recently, I’ve been following Hilary Hahn on Instagram, an award-winning solo violinist. I’ve been mesmerized by her practice process and how she learns the pieces she plays. Some days she talks about how she visualizes a piece and other days she shows you how she practices. It can be as tedious as just placing her fingers on the fingerboard to gain muscle memory, or practicing one small part over and over again. Watching her daily has inspired me to commit to a 31-day practice, because if one of the worlds greatest violinists is practicing daily, I should be too.
Music, like any art form, requires dedication, discipline, and most importantly, practice. Whether you’re a seasoned musician like Hilary, or just starting your musical journey, committing to a structured practice routine can significantly enhance our skills and deepen our understanding of music.
Why 31 Days?
It takes roughly a month to form a new habit, and for me, a month is an attainable goal, challenging, yet achievable. It’s enough time to track progress, witness improvements and start to form new habits, but not too much time that it’s impossible to do.
Setting Goals
Before starting, I’ll be establishing clear and achievable goals. Whether it is to improve my intonation or learn to play in new positions, I’ll clearly define my goals and what I’ll be working on week to week, depending on where I think I need the most improvement.
Creating a Practice Schedule
Consistency is key to successful practice, so I have carved out a dedicated time each day to practice and have included it in my weekly schedule.
Tracking Progress
Throughout the month I’ll be tracking my progress either in my practice journal or right here on my blog. I plan to record what exercises I’m doing, any notable achievements or progress and identifiy areas of improvement. I’ll share what I can.
Join me
Beginning this Friday, March 1st, I embark on my 31-day practice challenge. Throughout this journey, I’ll be documenting my progress, sharing insights, and hoping to inspire you to join me in your own practice endeavors. I’m eager to hear about what you’re currently working on and how you structure your practice schedule. Let’s support each other on this musical journey!
Session Obsession 