How to Practise: A Realistic Guide for Beginners (and Parents)
Progress comes from short, focused, regular practice, not marathon sessions. Here’s how to make 20 minutes really count.
How long and how often should you practise?
Quality matters far more than quantity. For beginners and children, 15–20 minutes of focused practice a day is more effective than one long weekly session. Practising little and often, and drilling the tricky bars slowly before speeding up, beats occasional marathons every time.
Key takeaways
- 15–20 focused minutes a day beats one long weekly session.
- Target the hard bars; don’t just play pieces top to bottom.
- Go slow before fast: accuracy first, speed follows.
- Always finish on a win so the next session feels inviting.
The 20-minute practice session that works
1 · Warm up (3 min)
Scales, long notes or a familiar easy piece to loosen up hands, voice and ears.
2 · The hard bit (10 min)
Zoom in on the one or two bars that trip you up. Play them slowly and correctly before speeding up.
3 · Join it together (5 min)
Play the tricky passage in context, the bar before and after, so it flows back into the whole piece.
4 · Finish on a win (2 min)
End with something you can already play well. Always stop on a high so tomorrow feels inviting.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I practise each day?
Quality matters more than quantity. For beginners and young children, 15–20 minutes of focused practice a day is more effective than one long weekly session. Older or more advanced players may build up to 45–60 minutes.
How often should you practise to improve?
Little and often wins. Practising five or six shorter sessions across the week beats a single long session, because your brain consolidates skills between practices, especially during sleep. Even 10 focused minutes on a busy day keeps momentum going.
Why is my child not making progress?
The most common reason is practice that is irregular or unfocused rather than a lack of talent. Progress speeds up when practice happens at the same time each day, targets specific tricky bars, and is broken into small, achievable goals.
How can I help my child practise at home?
Set a consistent daily time, keep sessions short and positive, praise effort rather than only results, and keep the instrument somewhere visible and easy to reach. Asking a younger child to ‘teach you’ what they learned turns practice into a shared routine.
Still not sure where to begin?
Our Riga team teaches all ages, seven days a week. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll point you in the right direction.