Hi all,

I've really been enjoying becoming more active on this forum recently. I've learned a lot so far from you all and hope that I've been contributing some useful stuff too.

Now, here's a question that has no "right" answer:
How do you balance being a busy teacher with your own practicing???

I'm really having trouble with this and am hoping for either sympathy or tips. I'm teaching about 20 hours a week and also spending significant time on marketing my book, improving my website, responding to inquiries, arranging music for students, etc. However, I do think that if I were the kind of person that had more discipline, I could figure out a way to also practice at least 2 hours a day. I mean, there are technically enough hours in the day to fit that in. I just don't seem to have enough energy or willpower or *something* to do it all. I've always been a bit on the lazy side, I think.

All that aside, I really *want* to learn some new repertoire and if not perform it, at least record it (audio/video) to put up on my website to show that I am still a working pianist. The thought of the result makes me excited, but each day, I just can't seem to get myself to sit at that piano and practice!

OK, I'm rambling, and I probably sound like a big baby. But, if any of you have some helpful, constructive thoughts for me on this, I'd really appreciate it. Even if all you can think of is, "Stop whining and sit your butt on that bench, you lazy bum!" I can handle that.

Let's get our butts on the benches!
My New Years' resolution is to spend more time at the other keyboard. Goal is to practice 2 hours per day and thus far that has not happened! My average is one hour per day and that's not enough. Best thing I think is to set aside a block of time and not plan anything else during that time, no internet, phone, nothing. Noon-2:00 PST is my goal so if you see me on here during that time, kick me off

Thanks for the solidarity, Barb! Glad it's not just me. Noon to 2 would be a good time for me to practice too, just Eastern time.

Hi Rachel
For me a few things have helped a lot

1. Being a somewhat incompetent pianist myself!! I have to practise or I will miss all the fun of teaching to a more advanced level (=motivation)

2. Taking holidays from teaching; the long summer holiday and three 2 week breaks (school holidays) as well. (this is my favourite motivation tool )

3. Having regular lessons with an experienced teacher drowning in degrees and knowledge (=motivation). But I bet my lessons will be less regular when I recommence teaching in Feb

4. I understand that having a teacher that performs, composes, has her own music projects, practises happily for hours a day.. is good for the student. We are role models, and our performances of pieces whether in lessons, or concerts that students/their parents attend is enormously motivating and memorable for them (providing they like it of course). I always liked having a performers for teachers when I returned to music a few years back. (=motivation)

5. And here's an unusual one that most won't need. I have never done any piano exams in my life. Yet I put students through this experience. So I have decided to book in to the local australian exam system and experience it from the inside. So far it's given me a great perspective and a chance to explore lots of the repertoire listed for the grades before my students get to this level.

At the moment I am loving practising. Once the habit was there I have more problem not doing too much than the other way around. So find your motivation, book your habit, then Good Luck

When I'm too exhausted at night to practice, or when I need to make sure I get it done (like if I know it's a busy day), then the morning is best. What I've been doing a lot of lately is a few minutes here and there, which I know adds up, but it woudl feel nice to get a big chunk of time.

I joined the MOYD on the ABF (I did this last year) and it has really helped me at least get to the piano every day. I try to make it for just *me* music, but sometimes I have to settle for playing for students.

Rachel,

I can sympathize! After a day of taking care of my kids (2 1/2 and 5 1/2 years old), plus lessons, plus dealing with our 80-year-old former-rental-property house that needs lots of TLC, well . . . most nights I would rather sleep than practice, LOL. However, I'm with you! I really would like to learn some new repertoire and replace the existing videos and mp3s on my site.

Maybe we need a piano teachers' "get your butt on the bench" practice club, kind of like they have over in the ABF.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend.

~Adrienne

It IS hard. I've learned to be extremely efficient in my practice since time and energy are so limited. I do not have long blocks of time where I can go uninterrupted, but I do have 30-minute blocks here and there, so that's what I use. I choose repertoire wisely -- no big blockbuster stuff if there isn't time --- but smaller, yet challenging works.

Don't set yourself up for failure. You'll only ending banging your head against the wall. Set short, attainable goals. Set your practice time to be right up against a lesson you are teaching. It's good for your students to hear you practice and it motivates you to be a good role model for those students who stand and listen outside your door. I don't think my own teacher ever knew how much I learned just from listening to his practice outside his studio door.

And don't practice when you are overtired. You won't accomplish anything, so the time is wasted.

If you find you'd like to practice more, decide what you will do less of. Is it less time socializing, doing fancy cooking, getting coiffed at the beauty salon, traveling, doing groceries, complaining to your spouse? Or all of the above?

Well, I'm lucky to have two pianos in my studio. I spend half the lessons playing for my students or playing with my students. When most of the pieces you teach are intermediate to advanced, you get quite a workout. For example, today I taught for 9 hours, and I must have played for 3-4 hours of that time. Not just baby pieces--mostly hefty exam stuff. I can certainly say my sight reading has improved by leaps and bounds.

I broke up my Tuesday lessons, so my "good" students are now scattered throughout the week. I think the move keeps my head above water, and I don't get bored playing Piano Adventures stuff all day on certain days.

Another way to force yourself to practice is to teach obscure or nonstandard repertoire that you've never taught before. You can't afford to sound bad when demonstrating for your students!!

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I especially like the idea of scheduling the practicing to run right into the teaching so that the students hear me working. That was one of the most inspiring things about going to piano lessons as a kid. My teacher was ALWAYS practicing as I came to the door. I would stand out there shaking like a leaf... scared of interrupting her even though, of course, she was expecting me.

A practice club sounds intriguing. What would we do? All post a practice log or something? Maybe there *should* be one for teachers.

I'm thinking that since I essentially teach from 3:15 to 7:30 every day, I could plan to start practicing at 1pm and just play until the students arrive. Then I should probably also play between students (no more than 15 minutes between them). Those minutes would add up too. Currently I go straight to the computer between lessons.

OK, so here's what I'm thinking...
1. Get up earlier (7:30 or so) and walk my dog and have breakfast
2. Work on the computer in the morning doing all the stuff I have to do away from the piano.
3. From noon-1pm do household stuff and walk my doggie
4. Make 1pm-7:30pm a piano-only time block - practicing and teaching only.
5. Stick to my evening routine of cooking dinner (quickly), eating at 8pm with hubby, and hanging out for a couple of hours with him before the last dog walk of the day and sleep.

When I say it like that, it sounds incredibly feasible! 8am to 12pm should be totally long enough to do the non-piano parts of my business.

Thanks again to everyone for not making me feel badly about this.

Rachel, I try (and that's the operative word) to practice 90 min after my wife leaves for the office and then an hour just before the first student arrives. Some weeks are much, much better than others. I do keep a log of my practicing, so I can't deceive myself.

Thanks, John... Glad others seem to find it somewhat difficult too.

i don't get to practice as much as I'd like... particularly classical repertoire. I have found it very helpful to put recordings on my ipod and listen to what I am working on while doing housework. I imagine playing the left hand for instance, or envision the beginning notes of each measure..

this makes my housework time well utilized.

A student no-show is a great time to squeeze in a little practice until the next kid shows up. I teach at a studio and sometimes come in early to practice on the grand, or stay afterwards when everybody's gone and I've got the whole place nice and quiet to myself.

The best time of the day to practice is first thing in the morning. I'm up at roughly 8-8:30 every day and I'm usually thinking about how I'm going to start off my practice on my way to the coffee maker. I'm lucky, because I can usually practice about 3 or 4 hours (some days longer), since all but a few of my students come in the afternoon or evening. I'm also lucky because I only sleep about 4 or 5 hours a night and as a result am able to get many things done during later hours that most people do earlier. Of course, being single has it's advantages as well.

toejamfutbol, I like your Thoreau quote.

I have trouble getting much more than an hour of practice in daily...even with having 3 students drop lessons this month. I'm enjoying the freedom, but not practicing more. I feel that "desperate haste to succeed" but only enough to make me feel inadequate for not doing more. I'm planning to add regular sightreading to my practice and I'm hoping the drive to improve my reading will keep me at the piano longer.

Thanks for the further feedback, all...

Ann, I empathize with the feeling of inadequacy. That's how I get!

Stores, 4-5 hours of sleep? I need NINE! And yes, being married takes a lot of time because you have to be thinking of someone else's needs too. I adore my husband, but sometimes I long for simpler times when I only had myself to take care of. I sure did practice more then!

wait till you have 3 children

LOL, even TWO was enough to throw off my schedule. Now I get literally (literally) no time that is completely to myself. Gone (for now at least) are the days of having the house to myself for hours at a time . . .

So it goes.

It DOES get better, though. And then, before you know it, they're gone and you'll wish they were back. Enjoy the time.