Effective music practice
is the key to success
As musicians we are always told that 'music practice is the key to success on any instrument'...but nobody ever tells us how to practice. We are told that 'Practice makes perfect'...but nobody ever tells us how! In fact, practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect! This site is about how to improve your practice techniques.
In 15 years of teaching music I have noticed it is the students who know how to practice effectively that make the most progress...and they are not necessarily the students who practice for the longest. They are the students who have an effective music practice technique. This site gives you the essential music practice techniques you need to progress more effectively and efficiently. It teaches you how to practice music, guiding you towards making faster progress in less time whether you are doing piano practice, violin, clarinet, flute, guitar... or any other musical instrument practice. The advice and techniques on this site apply to all instruments. By reading through and applying the advice you will have more efficient and effective practice
If you ever wondered how some people seem to learn pieces and scales quicker than you, how they improvise and sight read effortlessly and still seem to do less work than you the answer is they know how to practice music
Many people talk about ‘talented’ musicians... but it is tenacity not talent that wins the day. Browse the site now to find new and exciting techniques and tips on practicing music to help you start making more progress in less time!
“If I don’t practice the way I should,
then I won’t play the way I know I can”
Ivan Lendl - champion tennis player
The information on this website guides you towards achieving your musical goals efficiently, whether they are fame and fortune in the Classical or Pop world, becoming the next great film composer or being able to play for a local church or community group. This site helps you refine your goals and carry them through. You will find downloadable sheets and information on general music practice techniques as well as advice for practicing specific instruments.
UpdateI am actually having to take much of the practice advice on the site and practice what I preach again as I have started learning the bass guitar! Click here to read more about how I am getting on, and which practice techniques i am using the most.
In amongst all this talk of technique please remember the most important thing when we play is to enjoy playing. If we aren’t enjoying playing, how can we expect others to enjoy listening to us?
Enjoy browsing the site and good luck with your practice and your playing. If there is anything practice related you think I could help you with please use the Contact form and let me know. I'll do my best to help!
Simon HorseyI update this site on a regular basis as I find new music practice techniques, games and software that may be useful to help make your practice more effective. Subscribe to the RSS feed to be informed as soon as there is more great new content!
For more advice on how to make more efficient use of your practice time, read my book Practice Makes Perfect. For more guidance when practising scales order Practice Makes Perfect,
the book that teaches you how to make your music practice more
efficient and effective. Easy to read and containing over 140 pages of
advice on how to practice, musical goal setting, practice games, exams
and further tips on using the music practice charts on this site as well
as other invaluable practice advice. One music teacher called Practice Makes Perfect "An essential read for all musicians "
Click here now to order or read more about how Practice Makes Perfect can help you make more progress in much less time.
Featured Pages
Music Practice App
Make more progress
Learn more about my ebook Practice Makes Perfect here. Also available on iBookstore and Amazon.
Subscribe to the monthly Perfect Practice e-zine for extra practice tips and techniques to help you supercharge your progress
- How To Practice Music
- The page from which to download the free ebook How to practice: 5 habits to help you make more progress.
- Music Practice App
- This is the page for support with the iOS Music Practice App. Use the app to plan your practice each week and use your iPhone or iPod touch to make your music practice more effective.
- Efficient Practice
- Effective practice is efficient practice. It’s not about how <i>much</i> practice you do, it is about how <i>smart</i> your practice is. Achieve more in less time!
- Scales Practice
- Is scales practice important? YES! But most people don't know why or <i>how</i> to practice scales! Here is the answer!
- Perfect Practice
- Get new practice tips each month with the <i><b>Perfect Practice</i></b> e-zine
- Kids and Practice
- Kids and practice sometimes don't mix. They say they want to learn, but they never practice! Here's some advice to help encourage them.
- Music Practice Books
- General music practice books on how to practice as well as books focusing on specific areas of practice such as sight reading, group practice, improvisation and memorization.
- Transcribe Music
- Being able to transcribe music is an important skill, especially for composers and jazz musicians. Here is a guide on how to transcribe music and reviews of music transcription software.
- Music Practice Software
- There is plenty of software to support your music practice, even though it isn't advertised as <i>music practice software</i> as such. Here are some reviews of the best software for music practice
- Online Music Courses
- Information on my recommended online music courses for those who don't have a teacher. This list includes courses that are completed online and courses which are bought online to be completed offline.
- Sheet Music
- There is more sheet music available than ever before both online and in traditional printed formats. Here is some information on the best places to buy and download free sheet music.
- Digital Audio Recorder
- Recording practice is very beneficial, and while a high quality digital audio recorder isn't necessary it is certainly very useful. This page contains information and reviews of a variety of models.
- Performance Anxiety
- Dealing with performance anxiety is something many musicians have to do every time they perform. Learn how to deal with music performance problems.
- Lesson Notes and Practice Targets
- The way your music lesson notes are recorded during music lessons can have a great effect on whether you achieve your practice targets each week. Essential reading for all music teachers and students.
- The Practice Blog
- A music practice resource for students, teachers, parents and anybody involved in music with news, reviews and tips on how to practice music.
- Music Practice Charts
- Using music practice charts to plan and record information helps you make more effective progress. Download music practice charts here.
- Contact Simon Horsey
- Use this page to contact Simon Horsey about this site, giving a presentation to students about music practice, or anything else really!
- Simon Horsey
- Simon Horsey built the Essential Music Practice site to help music students develop the music practice skills needed to make faster, more effective progress.
- Learn To Play Bass Guitar
- I am going to learn to play bass guitar. Some friends are forming a band, I need a new challenge and they needed a bass player! This is a diary of my progress...
- Licensing ebooks
- Submit your information here if you are interested in licensing ebooks from Essential Music Practice.
- Quotes About Music, Quotes By Musicians, Quotes About Practice
- A little extra inspiration often goes a long way and I hope some of these quotes about music inspire you. There are also links to other pages with quotes by musicians and quotes about music practice.
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