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Since October was Mental Illness Awareness Month, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about mental health—especially for classical musicians. In our field, we often hear that practicing a certain number of hours is the key to success. But in reality, that’s rarely a straightforward path, especially for musicians like me who are balancing work, teaching, and life.
Since moving to ATL, I’ve been adjusting to a whole new environment. The city, the lifestyle, juggling a part-time job, teaching, and dealing with more bills than ever before—it’s been a lot. It can be stressful as a musician, especially when we’re constantly thinking about when we’ll get quality practice time in. But I’ve discovered some things that have helped me stay grounded, and I want to share them with you.
Types of Practice: What Do You Need?
Before diving into practice, take a moment to evaluate your goals. Are you focusing on technique and building a strong foundation? Preparing for an audition? Getting ready for a recital or concert? Understanding your priorities will help you tailor your practice to your current needs. For me, it’s been about honing my technical skills lately. I’m still settling in and getting adjusted, and right now, my main focus is getting my hands to feel good on my instruments, no matter how long it takes. I’ve had my first lesson with Joseph Petrasek, and he’s been a great help in refining those skills again. I can’t wait for the next lesson.
Consistency Over Hours: Making Every Minute Count
The most important thing I’ve learned is that consistency matters more than the number of hours. It’s not about practicing for a set amount of time; it’s about staying consistent and making each practice session count. When you practice, be as focused as possible, because every minute matters. Aim to get things right the first time. If you’re stuck on a passage and struggling, you’re not making progress—you’re just repeating mistakes! Diligent, deliberate practice is the key to improvement. In other words, quality over quantity is the best to go!
Honestly, I didn’t fully understand how to practice until I got to grad school. I was constantly swamped with music for concerts, percussion ensemble repertoire, recitals, auditions—all that. Learning how to practice effectively was the only way I made it through. But there’s one thing I made sure to prioritize just as much: my mental health.
The Importance of Mental Health
I’ve always made sure to put myself first because I know how much mental health impacts everything—practice, performance, and even motivation. You can only ignore your personal needs for so long before burnout catches up with you. I remember feeling burnt out during my last winter break, right after my recital and prescreening auditions. I was practicing from early morning until late at night, and by the time it was over, I had no motivation to touch my instruments for the rest of the break.
The next semester, I decided to prioritize my stability. I knew I had a packed schedule ahead: auditions, a concerto performance, percussion ensemble, opera, orchestra, and wind ensemble. It was a lot, but I made it work by focusing on balance. I committed to regular exercise, eating three times a day with something green on my plate, and carving out time for activities I enjoyed—like journaling, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends.
Building a Sustainable Routine
This past year has been a lot of trial and error when it comes to finding what works for me. I’ve learned that setting aside time in the morning for myself helps me feel mentally prepared to tackle the day. I start my mornings with some exercise, reading, a good breakfast, and journaling. Of course, I slip up sometimes—I'm human! But even on hectic days, I’ll at least do some quick calisthenics and make a healthy meal.
Right now, my schedule is pretty packed with work, practicing, and teaching. I’m taking about 5 minutes for calisthenics in the mornings, then using the rest of the time to eat, get dressed, read a few pages, journal, and do a half-hour of soft technique practice or score study. My routine changes depending on what’s going on, and that’s okay. Life is constantly changing, and we have to adapt to different seasons. Trees don’t stay green year-round, and neither do we. There’s a whole blog post I could write about what trees teach us, but I’ll save that for another time.
Listen to Your Body
If you’re not your best self in the practice room, you won’t be your best self on stage. And keep in mind, your "best self" changes from day to day. Don’t get stuck trying to make every day feel the same, because it won’t. Listen to your body and don’t ignore the signals it gives you. When I’m stressed, I feel it in my shoulders, and it’s up to me to figure out what’s causing it so I can adjust my day accordingly. Some days may be lighter than others, and that’s okay—learn to recognize what your body needs and make room for it.
Start Slow and Stay Consistent
Living with an abundance mindset makes life feel less draining and more fulfilling. Challenges come and go, and it’s up to us to face them with momentum and willpower. Start small—maybe a little exercise each day or just one page of reading. As you get more consistent, you’ll naturally want to take it up a notch. When your mind and body feel good, it shows in your music, your relationships, and your everyday life.
Remember, it all ties back to becoming the best musician and person you can be.
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