Day 19
Practice in Prime Time
I learned something fascinating this week that I have to share with you, and it’s going to change how you think about when you practice. 💡
Not all practice time is created equal. ⏱️
Let me explain. Your brain has what scientists call “ultradian rhythms” – these are 90–120 minute cycles throughout the day where your focus and energy levels peak and dip. 🧠
You’ve probably noticed this yourself. There are times of day when you feel sharp and focused, and other times when you’re foggy and can barely concentrate.
Here’s the thing: if you practice during your peak focus times, you’ll make more progress in 20 minutes than you would in an hour during your low-focus times. 🚀
Think about it. Have you ever had a practice session where everything just clicked? 🎶
Where 15 minutes felt incredibly productive?
And then other days where you practised for an hour and felt like you got nowhere?
The difference often isn’t your skill level or the difficulty of the music – it’s when you practiced. ⏰
I discovered this accidentally during my time examining overseas. 🌍
With jet lag and different time zones, I had to be strategic about when I practiced.
I noticed that if I practised first thing in the morning before my brain got cluttered with the day’s tasks, I was sharper, my fingers were more coordinated, and I made fewer mistakes.
But if I waited until evening when I was tired from a full day of examining, the same practice session would be twice as hard and half as effective. 😴
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Fiona, I can’t always practice when it’s convenient. I have work, family, responsibilities!” 🙋♀️
I completely understand. But even small adjustments can make a big difference.
🎯 Today’s Task (Quick – 2 minutes)
Today is about awareness and planning, not playing. 📝
Think about your typical day. When do you feel most alert and focused?
Is it:
☀️ First thing in the morning before the day’s chaos begins?
☕ Mid-morning after you’ve had breakfast and coffee?
🌤️ Early afternoon?
🌇 Early evening before dinner?
🌙 Late evening when the house is quiet?
Be honest with yourself. When is your prime time? 🔍
Now, look at your schedule for the next week. 📅
Can you carve out even 10–15 minutes during your prime time for practice?
I’m not asking you to move mountains.
Maybe you can’t practice at 10 a.m. every day because you’re at work. But could you practice at 10 a.m. on weekends? Could you practice before breakfast instead of after dinner?
Even making this shift 2–3 times a week will noticeably improve your progress. 🌟
Write in your practice diary:
“My prime time is ___________.
This week I will practice during prime time on these days: ___________.” 🖊️
🎓 For Advanced Players
Take this concept further by planning what type of practice matches different energy levels.
Prime time (high focus): Use this for learning new material, tackling difficult passages, and detailed technical work. This is when your brain can handle complex tasks. 🎵
Medium energy: Use this for maintenance practice – running through pieces you already know, working on expression and dynamics, or practicing scales. 🎶
Low energy: Use this for passive musical activities – listening to recordings, studying your scores away from the instrument, or doing gentle review. 🎧
By matching the task to your energy level, you maximize every practice session, even the ones that happen during less-than-ideal times. 💪
Also, notice patterns. 📊
Keep track for a week – log when you practiced and how effective it felt.
You might discover that you’re more focused than you thought at certain times, or that times you assumed were good are actually not serving you well.
Here’s something else to consider: if you practice right before bed, your brain continues processing that information while you sleep. 🌙 This is particularly powerful for memorisation and consolidating new technical skills.
So even though evening might not be your most focused time for learning new material, it’s excellent for reviewing what you learned earlier in the day.
The goal isn’t to be rigid about timing – life doesn’t work that way.
The goal is to be intentional. When you have a choice, practice during your prime time. When you don’t, adjust your practice activities to match your energy level.
This small shift in thinking can lead to dramatic improvements in progress. 🌱
You’re working smarter, not harder.
Try it this week and see what happens! ✨
Fiona 🎵
P.S. If you’re really struggling to find any practice time, remember Day 13’s Two-Minute Rule. ⏲️ Even two minutes during prime time is valuable! 💛