Why Keep Practicing? A Long Term Strategy

First there was the shock. What is happening? What am I supposed to do about it? How can I keep myself and my loved ones safe?

Then there was the feeling of a “snow day,” that surprise gift of a day when the snow has made travel impossible. Schools and offices are closed, and you’re stuck in the house. Once you sort out the cancellations and make that first cup of hot chocolate, you can settle in and enjoy it. One of my friends uses a snow day to clean out closets. I’ve always enjoyed spending my snow day reading.

Maybe you’ve been using this time at home to catch up on household chores or reading too. Probably, like me, you’ve found this an opportunity to do the kind of practice you wish you could do more often. It feels good, even in these unsettled days, to be able to accomplish something.  

But this isn’t like a regular snow day.

We aren’t simply waiting for the snow to stop and the roads to be passable.  This is much scarier and there’s no way to predict when this “snow day” will end. There are only so many closets to clean. Eventually there may come a moment when you wonder why you are practicing so hard when there is no place to play.

I had a similar moment, although without the pandemic, after I graduated from college. After the intense demands of a music conservatory education, I suddenly found myself without the pressure of deadlines. The performances I had to prepare for were much different from the make-or-break recitals I had been playing at school. There wasn’t anything I actually had to practice. So why bother?

Although I drifted for a while, I finally found four solid reasons to practice, even when it seemed there was no need. These reasons have been touchstones for me whenever I am tempted to “skip it just this once” or when I need to re-establish a solid practice habit. I share them with you today in hopes that they will help you stay connected to your harp in these uncertain days. 

I practice because…

…it creates focus, clarity and calm. Very little else can command my complete attention the way practicing music does. I become so absorbed in my playing that outside distractions, stress and worries disappear for a while. Everything is fixable; nothing in my playing is beyond my eventual control. Practicing is a way for me to regain my emotional balance.

I practice because…

…it makes me feel better physically. We know that musicians are athletes; we require our bodies to perform very specific tasks repetitively. Playing the harp isn’t merely moving your fingers. It involves your core muscles and your breathing. It’s a healthy form of exercise. In addition, the vibrations of the harp against your body have been shown to have measurable positive health effects. 

I practice because…

…I will be ready for when an opportunity presents itself. This current situation will end. This opportunity for extra practice time will disappear. This moment is the moment I have to practice, and I want to use it wisely.

I practice because…

…music is a necessary part of me. It is in my bones and my soul. It is in my breath and my heart. Abandoning it is not an option. That’s why I practice.