As a flute instructor, a very common question I am asked by parents and students alike is how much a student should practice. There is no one simple answer, but there is a logical correspondence between diligent and regular practice and progress. Below is a general outline of my own practicing philosophies for my flute studio students!

How much should I practice?

Enough to meet your goal! It is simple as that!

What is the goal?

In terms of your flute lesson, the goal is to be well prepared. Other goals are up to the individual and can be very motivating. Learning a certain tough piece of literature, memorizing another set of scales, entering a contest or perfecting recital piece - all of these can lead to finding a way to make practice time a priority!

What does it mean to be "well prepared"?

Being well prepared means planning ahead and making sure to complete each portion of your individual assignment by your next lesson. You will usually be assigned several areas of concentration each week depending on your current level - scales, tone, etudes, literature, music theory or a listening assignment may be included. Be sure to work on all the areas assigned for maximum benefit.

But how many minutes a day should I practice??

As a studio policy there will be no hard and set numbers. I also understand that most of my students are busy with many extra activities and that life sometimes gets really chaotic. However, as your teacher, I can help give you ideas of how often and how many minutes a day will help you progress. I am here to help and encourage, not to nag!

While I would never expect a beginning student to play for hours and hours every day, the reality is that the more you practice, the better you will becomes and playing (and mastering) the flute. A student that picks up the flute every day to practice is going to work through materials faster than a student that picks up the flute only once or twice a week.

Some students (and parents) like to hear and see numbers, so for those who wish it, here are some general guidelines to contemplate:

Novice                    20 minutes a day (5 times a week)

Beginner                 30 minutes a day (5 times a week)

Intermediate           45 - 60 minutes a day (5 times a week)

Advanced/College    1 - 3 hours a day

How about practicing in small chunks of time?

It is fine to split a practice session into smaller chunks of time. For example, a 30 minute practice session can be done in a 15/15 split, or even a 10/10/10 split. In some cases, it is better to split up the practice session in order to stay fresh and focused. Practicing only works if the student is fully engaged!

Do I really need to practice 20 minutes (or 30 or 45) minutes a day?

No. You may need to practice 35 or 55 or even more minutes a day. Or maybe less. It really depends on how well you want your materials to be prepared for a lesson and how quickly you wish to progress through materials. It once again boils down to personal goals. However, even for the most modest and admirable of goals - learning to play the flute for the love of music and the instrument - regular planned practice sessions are a must in order to build a relationship with your flute and to accomplish the goal of making beautiful music.

I had a terrible week and I hardly touched my flute at all. Should I still have a lesson this week?

Yes! Skipping a lesson would be the worst thing to do! Think of this kind of lesson as a re-set button and a way to start your new week fresh. Just come to your lesson and be honest about your progress and together we will find ways to rejuvinate your next week's worth of practice. There are many areas that can be addressed during your lesson time even if you did not practice - sight reading skills, duets, intonation, how to use a metronome for effective practice, breath builder techniques, care and maintenence of the flute, music theory, a mini-intensive on double-tonguing, or vibrato work, or even picking out a new solo to refresh a routine that may have gotten dull. I will never run out of ideas, so please come and enjoy your lesson!