Practice habits that work

Key idea 15 to 20 minutes a day beats 2 hours once a week. Give each session one small goal, and spend most of the time on the hard bars.

Progress comes from consistency. Your brain locks in skills while you rest and sleep, so many short sessions give it more chances than one long one.

A 15-minute plan

1. 2 minutes warm-up: a scale or five-finger pattern, very slow.
2. 3 minutes reading or theory: one Pianory drill.
3. 8 minutes on the hard spot: 2 bars, 50 to 60% tempo, the 3 clean repetitions rule.
4. 2 minutes for fun: a piece you know, start to finish.

Fixing a hard passage

• Pinpoint the problem. Often it is 2 to 4 notes, not the whole bar.
• Slow down to 50 to 60%, slow enough to stay correct.
• Change the rhythm: play it long-short (dotted quarter, eighth), then short-long. Fingers come back steadier and more even.
• Grow it note by note: start right at the problem, adding one note before and after each time.