Making Time to Practice

How Long Should You Practice, and How do You Find Time?

Beginning students, especially adults, seem to have a lot of trouble finding time to practice. The list of excuses is very long, and I believe I've heard almost all of them by now. Here are some tips to getting yourself into a practice routine.

• Make the time. Yes, that's right, make the time.  Like any other skill, playing guitar takes time, concentration, and commitment. A set time of the day is best, so schedule it like any other important appointment. 
• You're too busy, really? I hear that more and more. Here's a hint: turn off the TV, close Facebook, put the computer to sleep and pick up your guitar. Just like exercise, practicing guitar will become a habit if you do it at a set time each day. 
• Any time spent practicing is better than none. We all need to practice more, me included. The question I get from parents all the time is "how much time should he/she be practicing?" The general answer is 15 minutes or more, the practical answer is as much as possible. You don't have to spend hours, but playing every day is a lot better than 3 hours one day and then none the rest of the week.
• Find a comfortable space to practice in. If at all possible, find a place where you can practice that's quiet, away from any distractions, and preferably set up as a guitar practice space. Having your guitar on a stand is a good idea, since it's harder to ignore it when it's right there in front of you. Invest in a decent music stand so you don't have to waste valuable time locating your music, finding a place to put it, and then finally getting started on your daily practice.

So make time for playing your guitar every day, or at least 5 days out of the 7. If you're an adult student, one of the reasons you decided to learn guitar is most likely as a way to relax and enjoy yourself. Make practicing fun, and devote some time to your playing. Even though guitar can be overwhelming in the beginning, the more you practice the easier it will become. Taking private, one on one lessons is a great way to not put pressure on yourself. Have your guitar teacher map out a plan for you and you'll have no one to compete against, no set timetable, and no pressure.