Imagine yourself playing a passage perfectly. Hear every note in your head and feel all the physical motions in your body without actually touching the instrument.

Athletes use this technique to prepare for competitions, and musicians can benefit just as much.

In fact, Canadian pianist Glenn Gould often prepared works by reading through the score in his head long before touching the piano.

The ability to “hear” the music before you play it strengthens memory and ensures that when nerves or stage fright hit, your mind knows exactly where to go. 

My favorite way of doing this is listening to recordings of repertoire I’m listening to and pretending I’m the one playing. 

Here’s a quick 4-minute routine you can try in your free time:

I. Scan the score. Open your music and quickly mark the sections you want to focus on. Note the dynamics, articulations, and/or any tricky rhythms.

II. Check your rhythm. Clap, tap, or count aloud the rhythm of a difficult passage. (Use a metronome to keep yourself honest!)

III. Mental playback. Close your eyes and hear the passage in your head.

IV. Sing or hum. Sing the music out loud while looking at the score. This will connect pitch, phrasing, and breath to your inner ear.

And this brings us to our fifth and final practice habit…

 

5. Sing Your Part

If you’re an instrumentalist, then this habit is a crucial one for you. It is also the one you should consider adopting if you could only choose one from this list

Singing forces you to think like a musician—not just an instrumentalist—and it likely forces you out of your comfort zone too (it definitely forced me out of mine).

It doesn’t matter if you’re not good at singing. By vocalizing, you internalize pitch relationships and rhythms in a way your instrument alone can’t teach you.

Too often, instrumentalists get trapped in the technical aspects of practicing (fingerings, bowings, tonguing, etc.) and forget that music is ultimately about sound, expression, and the story you’re trying to tell. Singing brings you back to that foundation.

Here are some benefits that come with singing:

• Singing naturally builds long, expressive lines and forces you to think about where the music needs to “breathe.” (This is especially important if you’re playing a piece that requires you to make your instrument sound like a singer’s voice.)
• When you sing intervals or melodies, you internalize them in your ear instead of relying solely on finger positions or visual cues. This strengthens intonation and gives you a deeper sense of tonality.
• Singing with a metronome or conducting your part helps you feel rhythm in your body. You can’t fake your way through a passage when you have to vocalize it clearly.

 

In Conclusion…

Bad practice habits didn’t build up overnight, and neither will good practice habits. It’s a slow process of unlearning harmful patterns and replacing them with healthier, more intentional ones.

Just remember: quality over quantity.

It’s not always about practicing more; it’s about learning to practice better. By planning your sessions, researching your repertoire, recording yourself regularly, practicing away from your instrument, and singing, you’re no longer just fixing notes, but building a relationship with music.

Start small.

Pick one habit and try it this week.

Progress may feel invisible at first, but over time, these changes will add up, and one day, you’ll look back and thank yourself for taking the time and effort to replace bad habits with good ones.

Happy practicing!
Auriel