Can Practicing Classical Guitar Be Both Effective and Enjoyable?

When learning or teaching music, the question of how to practice is nearly always present in some form, yet how much do we really learn about how to make the most effective and enjoyable use of our practice time when learning to play classical guitar? Often, we focus so much on the (important and necessary) technical aspects that it can be easy to gloss over the fact that the vast majority of the time we spend with our instrument will be spent practicing. However, practicing can sometimes be viewed as an arduous chore, yet another obligation to add to an already busy schedule. If most of our time playing classical guitar is spent practicing, and we view practicing as a necessary evil rather than something to look forward to, then what does that say about the overall quality of our musical experience? Additionally, how much will we actually practice, once there is no longer an external incentive or reinforcement (such as the presence or expectations of a parent or teacher) to do so? How much better would our musical lives be if we can practice in ways that are both effective and enjoyable?

Finding answers to these questions is an ongoing journey, and I always enjoy learning more about both the art and science of practicing. That being said, in the interest of sharing some of what I’ve learned about practicing in ways that can be both effective and enjoyable, here are a few ideas that I try to instill in my own practicing and teach to my students:

• Start with why you wanted to learn classical guitar and make sure you can identify how what you practice works toward this. For example, I wanted to learn classical guitar because I loved the expressive sound of the instrument and felt that if I developed my technical abilities, I could work toward creating this sound. Reminding yourself of why you wanted to learn the instrument in the first place helps connect the dots between what we are working on now and how this helps us get closer to where we want to go.

• Set goals that are clear, specific, and personally meaningful. There are many ways to do this (SMART goals, for example), but the main idea is to know what your goals are, why you are pursuing them, and then work backwards from there to develop a strategy for achieving these goals.

• Focus on what you can do, not on what you wish you could do but can’t do (yet). Learning classical guitar is a marathon, not a sprint. You cannot always control the outcome and you probably won’t be able to play Asturias perfectly on your very first try, but you can choose to enjoy the journey by taking a growth mindset and placing your attention on how you can direct your efforts toward finding effective strategies that help you achieve your goals, one small step at a time.

• Create an enjoyable environment for practicing. This doesn’t have to be elaborate, and could be as simple as keeping your instrument and music stand in a visible area that you will pass by each day. This will both remind you to practice and make the decision to practice easier. Instead of having to remember where you put your instrument and music, it’s already there and ready for you to begin. If you enjoy tea or coffee, making a tea or coffee before practicing can create a positive association between practicing and another enjoyable activity.

• Allow time for improvising and/or composing: We’re often so used to playing what is written on the score that we can forget to take a more spontaneous approach and just play whatever we want and see where it leads us. Far from being a diversion, improvising or composing actually increases our familiarity with the instrument, overall musical proficiency, and is just plain fun!

• Journal your progress: Take a few minutes, whether before or after each practice session, once a week, or once every month or quarter to make note of what you practiced, how it went (both positive aspects and challenges), and what you achieved. You will be pleasantly surprised how far you have come!

I hope these ideas have been interesting to consider and helpful for your musical journey. Happy practicing!