How do I make myself practice the cello more?

Question

I play the cello, but I can not make myself practice enough. I have to play at least 1/2 hours a day, but I can not make myself do that. I usually forget that I have to practice. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Try thinking about it in terms of doing 5 specific things, rather than thinking about spending 30 minutes. In other words, make a list of 5 things you want to do, and once you do those, you'll be done.

For instance, starting with a couple of scales, or whatever you usually start with. That could be the first thing. Then moving on to playing the first half of the piece you're working on, noting whatever it is that you're working on in that piece, and working on that piece for a bit. That's the 2nd thing. And so on, until you've done five things. Chances are, your 30 minutes will be up and the time will have passed more quickly because you're thinking in terms of accomplishing small tasks, rather than thinking about the time. I hope this helps a bit, and good luck!

Answer 2

Play stuff you like. Makes all the difference in the world. Four years ago I started out on Sazuki harp, everyone plays the same stuff in the same order. Hated it. Was supposed to do an hour a day and could hardly make myself do 15 minutes. About a year ago I swicthed to a different program, and now that I like the music three hours can easily slip away without my noticing. Also, listen to a rediculously hard but utterly cool sounding piece of cello music, you'll want to practice more so you can sound like that.

Answer 3

Some people, myself included, are goal orientated.

Can you get with a small group, a string quartet or even an amateur orchestra. If you are goal orientated you will want to be the best player there and in order to be the best you must practice.

Half hour a day, every day, is not bad. But why not increase it to an hour per day?

Get a good teacher and prepare your lessons carefully. Having a teacher also creates a goal. You have to play your lesson well, so that is your goal.

Anything worth tackling is worthing doing right so keep up the practice, even adding a few minutes a day will help you.

Answer 4

A good friend of mine used to always play the cello with a glass of milk, while placing cookies on the top of the cello and eating in between takes......that might do it for you!!

Answer 5

I have the same problem with the violin. You just have to do it right after you get home from school (or work, or wherever). Or set a alarm to a time everyday when your just on the computer, or watching T.V. If that doesn't work, just practice fingerings. You can do whatever you want, and you still get practice time in! Hope this helped!

Answer 6

Maybe instead of half an hour each day, 1 hour every other day?

And get a calender specifically for marking when to practice, how much you need to practice, and when concerts are, if you need help remebering.

Answer 7

My favorite way to remind myself to do something is to REWARD myself for doing it. Of course, the reward has to be something that you can actually do for yourself or get someone in the house to do for you. Like, as soon as your done, you get to watch a favorite tv show, eat a piece of candy (not a good one if your weight conscious) or put a quarter or dollar in a jar for a future treat.

Answer 8

You yourself must be interested in playing cello first. So you won't forget abt practising it. Practise makes perfect, w/o practise u'll gradually lose ur touch..good luck

Answer 9

You can't force yourself to play I believe....You have to learn to love the instrument! I used to listen to orchestras and point out when I heard the melody from the flutes and the piccolos and that made me love my instrument. I learned what I could sound like!

Answer 10

Tell your self that you can't do something inless you pratice. Or have someone keep that item out of sight while you pratice, ever if it is the remote