Our Top Music Tips
If you follow us on social media, you’ve probably seen our Music Tip Monday series, where we highlight a new music tip each week. This post brings together our top tips from that series so far—perfect for musicians looking to improve their practice habits or start some new ones. Keep reading to learn more, and be sure to follow us on our socials to stay up to date with future Music Tip Mondays!
Use a Metronome
Practicing on your own can be tricky, but one of the best ways to make sure you’re playing at the correct tempo is by using a metronome. This is essential for all musicians, but it’s especially helpful if you’re just starting out or working through a challenging piece of music.
Using a metronome helps you develop a strong sense of rhythm and steady timing over time. The more you use one, the better you’ll become at maintaining tempo—especially in faster or more complex passages. A great strategy for learning a difficult song is to start at a slower BPM and gradually increase the tempo until you reach the intended speed.
And don’t worry—you don’t need to buy a fancy metronome! There are plenty of free metronome apps available that work just as well.
Establish A Consistent Routine
One of the most important things you can do as a musician is practice on a consistent schedule that works best for you. Everyone’s life and schedule look different, so the key is finding a routine that’s realistic and sustainable.
We often say that it’s better to practice for 15 minutes every day than two hours once a week. Short, frequent practice sessions help build muscle memory and reinforce good habits. That said, we understand how busy life can get. Maybe your routine is practicing three times a week for 30 minutes, or four times a week for 20–30 minutes. Whatever you choose, consistency is what truly helps speed up your progress.
Record Your Solo Practice Sessions
A great way to track your progress during solo practice is to record yourself playing—something several of our teachers do regularly. It might feel a little awkward at first, but the benefits far outweigh the discomfort.
Recording yourself allows you to become your own critic. When you watch or listen back, you may notice things like hand position, bow placement, posture, tone quality, or breath control that you didn’t catch while playing. Saving these recordings also lets you compare them over time so you can clearly see (and hear!) your improvement. You can even share recordings with your teacher during lessons to show what you worked on between sessions.
Parents: If your child is comfortable, recording their practice sessions can be a great motivational tool. Seeing progress over time can encourage more consistent practice.
Have Proper Posture
Many instruments come with specific techniques for how they’re held or played, which can make it easy to forget about overall body posture. Always keep your posture in mind while practicing!
Whether you’re singing, playing piano, or sitting behind a drum kit, good posture offers many benefits. Sitting or standing up straight helps with breath control, improves arm and hand placement, reduces unnecessary tension, and can prevent aches or injuries from prolonged practice in uncomfortable positions. As a bonus, good posture is great for your overall health—so being a musician can help your body in more ways than one!
Always Warm Up
The first thing you should do when you pick up your instrument is warm up. Play scales, long tones, or whatever exercises your teacher has you start with during lessons. Warm-ups help reinforce good habits and prepare both you and your instrument for focused playing.
Many instruments need time to “wake up” and respond their best, and warm-ups help with that process. They’re also a great way to mentally reset. Life can be stressful, and everyone has off days—use your warm-up time to relax, focus, and become present with your instrument before diving into repertoire.
Embrace Imperfection
Beethoven once said, “To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable,” and we couldn’t agree more. No musician is perfect, so don’t be too hard on yourself when mistakes happen.
We’ve all had practice sessions where nothing seems to go right, and it can be incredibly frustrating. Acknowledge that frustration, then use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Take a breath, refocus, and keep working on the sections that need extra attention.
Mistakes happen in performances, too. What matters most is recovery. Keep going, stay confident, and embrace imperfection. The audience might notice a wrong note—but chances are, they won’t, and they’ll remember the passion and energy of your performance far more than a small slip.
Take Care of Your Instrument
Taking care of your instrument has several important components, and we’ll break them down for you. Most instruments rely on accessories to stay healthy and sound their best, so it’s important to use them regularly. Store mouthpieces and reeds properly and replace them when needed. Always keep essentials like valve oil or rosin with your instrument and use them consistently. If your guitar or cello strings are looking worn, let us know—we’re happy to help you replace them. These small tools and habits play a big role in maintaining your instrument’s sound and longevity.
Cleaning and proper storage are just as important. We already have a dedicated blog that goes into detail about How and When to Clean Your Instrument, so be sure to check that out for more in-depth guidance. One of the biggest takeaways from that post is to keep a dry microfiber cloth on hand to wipe away dust, rosin, moisture, and skin oils after each practice session.
When it comes to storage, always keep your instrument in its case in a room with moderate temperature and humidity. Avoid leaving instruments in cars or garages, especially during extreme heat or cold, as temperature changes can cause serious damage over time. Take care of your instrument because you care about your instrument—and it will take care of you in return.
As musicians, we are constantly learning and growing to become the best we can be. We hope these music tips inspired you to build stronger habits or try something new in your practice routine. Don’t forget to follow us on our socials linked below for the next Music Tip Monday!
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/
