So many questions have been asked of me recently that point to the fact that many people wish they had learned to play an instrument or had continued taking lessons.

Practicing, Playing a Concert, and Repeating the Process

It is common knowledge that to accomplish anything, we need to place our focus and attention on it. And playing a musical instrument is no different.

Personal preparedness yields excellent results for musicians in most circumstances. But there comes a time in a musician's life when things do not transpire on stage, even when someone practices diligently on their pieces.

Practicing a musical instrument calls for long hours is a given. How much time you need to practice depends on your age, the number of years you have been playing, and your instrument. For that, you need to consult your instructor.

Exercising positive thinking is as valuable in music as in all other aspects of our lives.

Playing and practicing takes a great deal of effort and time from a person.Sometimes, one has to be ready to put things to rest and energize, regroup one's thoughts, and come back to playing with a rejuvenated and healthy attitude.

When I began teaching my younger daughter to play the cello, she made it clear to me in her way that she was not interested. Five minutes into the lesson, she would say, "Mommy, can we do this tomorrow?"

Self-care is integral to being a musician, as playing an instrument takes energy and requires the instrumentalist or the singer to be in good health and practice nurturing habits in their daily diets. While this holds true for all individuals and professions, I have encountered some issues as a musician. Also, this post does not claim to be a scientific study or does not include medical advice; it is meant as a reminder for ourselves as musicians to take care of our personal needs well before we consider our daily practice routines.

Whether you have already begun playing a new musical piece or are about to start learning one, it is noteworthy to ask yourself several questions. Your teacher, instructor, or professor might already provide you with some background about the piece. However, researching a musical work can illuminate how it should be performed. Of course, having more information about a piece will not replace good old practicing. However, acquiring more knowledge about the composer, the period he lived in, and the reasons he composed that work can only assist you in mastering the piece.

Have you ever practiced your instrument for long hours and felt frustrated that you were not progressing well?

Practicing an instrument takes much energy apart from everything we have to do in life, such as rehearsals to go to, responsibilities to assume, and managing a household and children. Do you have too many things to do, and on top of that, you must keep up with practicing your instrument? Then how do you ensure that you put in the required hours as a musician? How do you deal with overwhelm? I have dealt with this issue many, many times over the years. However, I managed to learn something quite valuable a while back.