Effective flute practice – 3 top tips

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR FLUTE TECHNIQUE PRACTICE 

Are you frustrated by what you’re (not) achieving in your daily practice? Does it sometimes feel like you’re putting in the work but never really improving? Are there days when it all becomes a bit torturous or even… boring?

I think we all know in our hearts that this kind of practice won’t get us anywhere fast. But still we keep stepping up to the music stand every day to do the same things on repeat, because it’s been drilled into us that it’s the hours that count.

We’ve all heard about the 10,000 hours rule1 – but did you know that this theory has now been comprehensively debunked?2 It turns out that it’s not the hours but the quality of our practice that really makes the difference.

So what does real research tell us about how to practise better and achieve more?

The 3 top tips for effective practice

They’re not what you might expect. NOT on the list are: constant repetition, relentless technique exercises, and ruthless self-critique. Instead, the latest research* says:

Practice from the heart

Emotional connection plays a critical role in effective learning. Loving what you’re doing is the best way to wire the brain to absorb new skills and ideas. It sparks creativity and flow, bringing quicker and better results.3

How? Choose technique exercises with pleasing melodic lines. Connect your technique practice to your repertoire for more musical satisfaction: work around the same tonalities, find scale and arpeggio patterns within the music and use these as exercises.

Practice with the mind

Mental practice is surprisingly powerful: one study has shown mental exercises can even improve the strength in those dreaded 3rd and 4th fingers.4 Cognitive rehearsal of the movements involved in playing has been proved to improve performance twice as quickly as good old-fashioned practice alone. It even improves finger dexterity and speed.5

How? Put your instrument aside and visualise yourself going through the actions of playing difficult passages. Mentally rehearse your performance to a backing track or recording; immerse yourself in the musical experience for full focus. Bonus: you can do this anywhere, any time.

Practice towards a goal

A clear vision of your long-term goal is the single biggest factor in achieving success.6 Remember, your musical goals do not have to look the same as someone else’s: think about what being a musician means to you (and ignore those ideas of ‘amateur’ and ‘professional’; these have no place when music comes from the heart). Practice is most powerful when it is deeply linked to a clearly defined purpose and strong personal values. Motivation to achieve meaningful goals is what keeps us practising effectively, even when it’s not a good day. And we all have those.

How? Take some time to clarify your own vision of what you want to achieve in the long term. Write down your goals and plot some key steps along the way. Try keeping a daily practice journal to track your progress.

* Research citations are in my full post here. Read the complete essay in the Introduction of my book, Micro Etudes by Elisabeth Parry.