As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect!

Although this is true, we sometimes forget that it's not the quantity or how often we do something, but the quality of the effort we put in each time that makes any practice perfect.

With this in mind, here are a few do's and don'ts to help keep your practice routine fun and rewarding.

Do's

1. Just like doing any physical exercise, you need at least a good 20 minutes of practice time to see any lasting results.  30 minutes is ideal. 45 minutes to an hour if you feel you want to push a little more.
   
   
2. Take a moment to prepare your practice space.  Your piano is like your desk at school or study room at home. Try organizing your books and materials to avoid clutter around the piano.
   
   
3. Make sure you sit with the correct posture at the piano, with your back straight and arms at a 90-degree angle with the keyboard.
   
   
4. Take a few moments to relax by taking a few deep breaths and releasing the air slowly.  Good practice starts with a calm mind.  This also helps you to retain what you will learn more effectively.
   
   
5. When going over a difficult part, take your time and slow down as much as you need.  It's not necessary to get everything right on the first try.  Going slowly and using a metronome to gradually increase your playing speed will go a long way.
   
   
6. Put up with distractions.  Sometimes you can't avoid having people or distractions while you practice.  With patience and a little effort, you can learn to "block out" the noise around you and focus on your lessons.

Dont's

1. Don't rush through your practice.  Take your time so that you can reward yourself with beautiful music and a job well done!
   
   
2. Avoid distractions.  If there are people around, let them know ahead of time that you intend to do a practice shortly and would like to have as few distractions as possible.
   
   
3. Don't give up.  The only mistake you can make is to not try again. 
   
   
4. Don't over practice.  As with all things balance is key.
   
   
5. Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Your teacher is there to help you understand what you need to know.
   
   
6. Don't stop playing!  Once you've gotten the hang of playing piano, make it a permanent part of your life.

To summarize, music practice should never be about just another activity or hobby to pass the time.  Our body is like a very complex machine. Music helps to keep all the parts works together and in harmony, because this is how life should be experienced, one measure, one day at a time.