Ideally practice should be done every day, especially if you are preparing for a performance or exam. Individual people learn at different rates. If you are someone who learns relatively quickly, the table below will ensure an average rate of progress. If you are finding it hard-going or want to progress faster, increase your practice time!
However, if you are a beginner, or trying out something completely new, be aware that you may be using muscles and joints in a way that they are unaccustomed to, and so take it gradually to begin with, to avoid injury.
The following are recommended average practice times per week:
- Beginner up to 3months – 1 hour per week (e.g. 6 x 10min sessions)
- 3 – 6 months – 1 hour and a half (6 x 15mins)
- 6 months – Grade 1 level – 2 hours (6 x 20mins)
- Gr.1 – 2 – 2 and a half hours per week (6 x 25mins)
- Gr.2 – 3 – 3 hours (6 x 30mins)
- Gr.3 – 4 – 3 and a half hours ( 6 x 35mins)
- Gr.4 – 5 – 4 and a half hours (6 x 45mins)
- Gr.5 – 6 – 6 hours (6 x 1 hour)
- Gr.6 – 8 – 9 hours (6 x 1 hour and a half)
It takes careful planning and discipline to arrange your practice schedule around other commitments, and it may not be possible, or even beneficial at more advanced grades, to complete everything in one session each day. You may, for example, have time to run through some scales in the mornings before school or work; or find the odd five minutes to tackle a difficult bar... it all contributes positively to your total time. If you miss a day, try to make up the time, however, it will not be very productive to try to fit a whole week’s work into one practice time. Your teacher will invariably know!
(See also 'What is the best way to practise?')