Practice Tracker

How can you keep track of your practicing? What do you need to track?

There are plenty of options for how you can track your practicing. What you chose to do is all based on your style and what you want to keep track of.

What should you track? You can either track tasks (eg. doing your full assignment or working on a particular piece) or time (eg. 30 minutes a day).

Low/No Tech Tracking:

To do list. Literally just write down your goals for each day and check them off when you finish them.

Picture tracker. Draw pictures representing each goal and color them in when you complete them. For example, draw a tree and each leaf represents 20 minutes of practice. Put the number of leaves for your overall practice minutes goal and color in one leaf each 20 minutes you practice. Or, if you're like me and can't draw to save your life, use stars or balloons or hearts to represent those times and color them in the same way.

Practice record chart. Keep a piece of paper or notebook with your music and after every practice session, write down how long you practiced and what you worked on. You can add in details of what went well, what didn't, what you need to work on more, etc.

Tech Tracking:

Phone calendar: Put your list or goals in your phone calendar and delete them when they are accomplished.

Notes: Use your notes app to track what you did (length of practice, what you worked on, etc.)

Practice tracking apps: There are several options depending on what you want to track and if you are willing to pay for them. There is probably an option that will work for you. I do not personally use them because I'm old school and like pen and paper :)

Why should you track your practice? Well, for one thing, it feels good to see what you've accomplished. It also helps you recognize if you are really practicing as much as you think you are, and you can show your teacher what you are able to accomplish in your practice time and get help making your practice time more efficient and effective.