Effective practice is a skill every violinist should cultivate to make the most of building musicianship. Unfortunately, it isn't a skill that is widely taught on its own benefits. Here are 3 tips for effective violin practice that you can implement to make the most of the practice room. 1. Don't just practice the piece.

Practice isn't about how many times we can repeat the piece until we get it right. Practice is an act of problem solving. Why isn't this working? What skills do I need to build more? Where am I being challenged? Answering these questions can give us insight into supportive practice strategies. If you are struggling with articulation, then find an exercise or etude that targets that specific kind of articulation in your practice routine. Also regular practice to build dexterity, intonation, and bowing patterns is helpful in every piece and key. Keep a rotation through the circle of fifths in scales and arpeggios to build a repertoire of finger patterns so that when you encounter a specific key in the wild, you are ready. This kind of effective violin practice can prepare you for many situations.

2. Rotate your skills and pieces.

We don't always show up every day with the same level of readiness. Have a rotation of skills and pieces that have flexibility. If you're having a hard day, play some comforting pieces that remind you why you love playing. That show you where you are skillful, that remind you of how far you have come. On days when you're feeling ready for a challenge, have a set of books and skills to push you further in what you find difficult. We are not the same human every day, some days we struggle and some days we excel, have an effective violin practice plan that gives you room to breathe on the days you need it, and pushes you harder on the days you're ready for it.

3. Don't over do it, and don't under do it.

Knowing your limits extends past just choosing a practice plan for each day that reflects your readiness. Sometimes effective violin practice includes choosing how long to practice. 3 hours of frustration is wasted practice time. If you are tired and over practicing it can hurt you as much as not practicing at all, sometimes even more if an injury develops. Know your limits, and give yourself appropriate breaks. Practicing in short bursts with small water breaks in between can often be an effective way to implement a more detailed practice plan with more diverse goals. But don't eschew practice just because you're not feeling it either. Missing practice can also undercut your progress. Keep it regular, but keep it reasonable as well. Choosing how to practice is an individual process, but targeting effective violin practice is important to progress as a musician and as a person. So make sure you practice today, but plan well and wisely.