The Best Places for Musicians to Practice
When musicians first start out, one of the most important factors is for them to make sure they have a good place to practice on their own. Having the perfect place to practice will ensure that you can dedicate time and focus to your music discipline. But what are the best places to practice? This post exists to give you some ideas of where to practice so you can determine the perfect place for you.
At home
Practicing at home is great because it’s free and typically available most of the time depending on each living situation. However, the tricky part is finding the best time to practice and room to practice in. As far as time goes, when you practice is unique to you. We would not recommend practicing in the middle of the night at home, but hey, maybe that works for you. What we do recommend is practicing around the same time every day so you can create a consistent routine.
Your practicing places might be limited in this scenario if you play a large instrument like the marimba or piano. If you play a bigger instrument that is almost impossible to move but still at home, all you have to worry about is when you practice.
Here is a list of requirements for a space to practice your portable instrument.
- Rule Number One: find a room or space inside your home where you can be away from any people. This is essential when practicing at home because it stops you from getting distracted, and, on the flip side, it ensures that you won’t distract anyone else. This could mean your basement, your bedroom, or any other room that suits you best.
- Rule Number Two: the space you choose should have good air flow and a regulated temperature. Whether you are singing or playing an instrument, these two things will make you comfortable since they allow you to breathe freely, and they will make your instrument comfortable since the room won’t be too hot or cold.
- Rule Number Three: find a space with little to no outside noise. This can sometimes be more difficult if the weather isn’t working with you, or you live near a hospital, fire station, or train tracks, but this rule is all about finding a space that works for you. Having low outside noise is also crucial because it improves acoustics and helps you focus on the music you’re creating. But don’t fret! If the outside noise is too loud, you could take steps to soundproof your practicing space. The easiest things to do are get a draft stopper for your door or weather stripping for your doors and windows. You can find these things at your go-to hardware store. You can also get soundproofing foam tiles to put on the ceiling or walls to improve acoustics and keep that sound where you want it.
- Rule Number Four: your space should have enough…space…for you to practice. You should find a room where you can correctly position yourself to move freely, and the sound you make can travel without many obstacles. This means not practicing in your closet or pantry if it’s too tight of a squeeze. At the end of the day, a more open space that aligns with the other rules is perfect.
There are so many factors that could prohibit you from playing at home, especially if you live in a townhome or an apartment. So where else can you practice?
At School
If the school you attend has a music program, they post likely have available space where you can practice. This is true from elementary schools to colleges. You might also be able to practice at your local college even if you aren’t a student depending on the music program’s rules. All you have to do is communicate with people in the music program to schedule a time when the musical spaces aren’t being used. What is great about this option is that music programs typically already have bigger instruments like pianos or percussion instruments, so you won’t have to worry if you play a larger instrument. Permission is key to practicing in the spaces available for public or private use, so make sure to ask for it!
Religious Buildings
Many churches or other religious organizations have musical ensembles that practice on a regular basis. Not to mention, most of them have incredible acoustics. Feel free to ask your local religious organization if they have space that you can use to practice! This is typically an easy process if you already attend the religious organization you wish to practice in, but you never know! Give it a shot!
Warehouses or Commercial Buildings
If you or someone you know has access to a perfect practice space, see if you can practice there. Many warehouses or other kinds of buildings have awesome acoustics and check all the boxes on our list of requirements for a perfect practice space even though they’re not at home. And they could be free! All you have to do is get proper permission and visit the space first to make sure it’s a good fit for you.
Music Stores, Schools, or Studios
Many music stores offer music lessons to patrons of their business, so they might have spaces available for you to practice in. Do some research about the music businesses in your area if this seems like a good fit for you. This option might cost money, so be sure to keep that in mind. If you live in or near Delaware County, Taylor’s Music in West Chester, PA offers practice spaces. And of course, so do we! Contact us on our website to learn about pricing and when our music studio and practice rooms are available. Click through our music spaces below!
The Watch and Learn Room is set up with drum kits, pianos and even a xylophone! The room can accommodate all types of lessons and features a window that looks out to the waiting area so anyone that might come with you can watch your musical progress. 
Our very own Michele Ferdinand has claimed this room and teaches some of the best piano in the Delaware Valley as well as singing (voice) lessons. Michele enjoys a constant flow of students advancing their musical journey through Breaking the Barrier School of Music. The room is set up to comfortably accommodate a one-on-one lesson. 
The Main Jam Room is set up to accommodate a full band with multiple drum kits, pianos, microphones, keyboards as well as plenty of amps for guitars and other instruments. 
Every studio needs an everything room. Our Everything Room is set up to teach guitar, piano, brass, woodwinds and more. The smaller space is designed to maximize the sound and provide a great space for an individual lesson, insulated from the rest.
Hopefully this post gave you some ideas of where you can practice if you’re struggling to find your perfect space. We know that having a space like this can make or break your musical progression, so feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about practicing. We have a plethora of experienced musicians at our music school that can offer different ideas for unique situations. Happy practicing, and we’ll see you next week!
As an institution that is a beat above the rest, Breaking the Barrier School of Music provides quality music lessons in a family atmosphere to students of all ages and skillsets. For more articles like these or information on this school, visit https://btbschoolofmusic.com/
