As I’m typing this post, my thermostat says that it is 60 degrees in the house. My fingers are cold. I have a fire in the fireplace. It’s 22 degrees outside. Yes. In Houston. There is no school for my children and I’ve rescheduled lessons yesterday and today. Needless to say, my plan for the week has changed.
So what does that have to do with practice? Sure, I could warm my fingers up with practicing. And I will later, but for now, I’m working on other projects that the “extra” time has afforded me. Getting ahead on some things, working on projects that would take a little more time. All the while complaining about the cold.
But one of the biggest challenges when it comes to practicing overall is having the time. Well, we all have time, it’s what we choose to do with the time. If school is cancelled, do you watch TV and play video games? Sure, you could….but you could also use that extra time to practice.
When our plans change, we need to be flexible, always keeping our goals in mind. If your goal is to grow as a musician, then you need to spend time practicing. Of course, on days like today where school is cancelled, you still can do the fun stuff, but it’s a matter of spending time with your instrument as well. Be flexible!