Question: How do I get back into regular practicing after taking a long break from music and classical guitar?
After taking a few months off practicing classical guitar (or more) it can be difficult to return to a structured and regular practice session. The key to success is making your practice sessions enjoyable and special and slowly introducing structure and balance once a routine has been established. Here are a few tips:
Build Motivation and Inspiration
Find a few super easy pieces that you love play or inspire you to learn. This is immediately make your practice session more enjoyable and something you’ll look forward to. Listen or watch some of your favourite musicians while making a tea or coffee to get inspired. Read some music history or watch a short lesson, whatever inspires you.
Make it Special
Make your practice session a special time of the day. Get some good treats, make a nice coffee or tea, clean up your practice area and make it look nice. Listen or watch some great performances (not necessarily guitar) to musically inspire you. Make it a sanctuary of “you-time” that is special and almost self indulgent. It’s a luxury to get to study music and improve yourself, as well as flex your creative muscles. Unless you are professional musician you have to ask yourself, “why did I start playing music?”. It wasn’t to be hard on yourself, it was for enjoyment, creativity, intellectual curiosity, and artistic challenge. It should be a positive endeavour and an enjoyable one.
Make it Consistent
Even if you only start with 5 minutes a day, that is a great accomplishment. But do it every day. If possible do it at the same time of each day. Schedule it in as ‘you-time’ and make it happen. Again, even if it’s only 5 minutes. You can increase the amount of time later. Practicing for 5 mins a day is better than 2 hours twice a week.
Slowly Introduce Structure and Balance
Once you have some enjoyable easy material you should start building a technique routine to get your ‘chops’ back and to develop and progress in your technique and musical skill building. This is a good start to having some structure but it won’t overwhelm you. You can just start with some scales or alignment exercises. Don’t try to build the whole routine at once. Just some technique and nice easy repertoire to start the process.
Then Get Organized
See this lesson to get fully back into practicing:
- How to Practice Music and Organize Your Practice Session – A lesson on how to practice music, classical guitar, and organize your practice session. Fully integrate this once you’re practicing everyday.
If you are at the intermediate level you might also want to see my article and video on: 7 Technique Categories to Practice Every Day on Classical Guitar
You can find practice routines for each level in my Full Technique Book.
- You can find easy repertoire here:
- Easy Classical Guitar, Vol. 1, Grade 1-3
- Easy Classical Guitar Vol. 2, Grade 1-4
Support
If you need any clarification on this particular Q&A please leave a comment below. Also visit the main Classical Guitar Q&A page. If you are enjoying the free lessons you can support the site here.
I think this is a related question. I have hand problems. I do not know, day to day, how well I will be able to practice. I used to practice two sessions a day, as often as I could. I now, at times, I sit down and realize I cannot practice well. On these days I feel I am wasting my time and put the guitar away. If I miss two or three days a week for an extended time do you think there is any hope of keeping up. I am asking you as a teacher. I am working with a hand surgeon so I have the medical point of view.
I also have hand issues and learning to feel the warning signs of a flare up is key to my ability to cope. If I spot the issue early I stop immediately which speeds up the healing process by 95%. The slightest tingle in the hands and I stop immediately for the rest of the day. I also put on wrist supports for the rest of the day in case computer work or anything else irritates it. Of course it depends on what you are battling with but in my case, this allows me to stop for a day instead of a week or two. In collage I overdid it and had to stop for 4 months. Also, shorter practice sessions with breaks is important as well.
I also actively work on relaxation and ergonomics everyday. I work on it even if I don’t think I have tension problems (everyone does to some extent though).
Bradford, thank you for your response. For what is worth, arthritis at the base of both thumbs and a few other issues. I agree completely with the ergonomics. I am constantly working on my left thumb. Wrong position, end of the session.
Thank you–this is exactly the help I was looking for. I injured my left thumb and stopped playing for six weeks. I am now back to regular practice sessions, and have made improvements, such as warming up and stretching before even picking up the guitar. But I have two questions if I may. After about an hour I start to feel discomfort in my thumb, and I stop immediately. This happens most every day. Am I okay to continuing practicing every day as long as I stop, or am I overworking something? And the second question, would you mind clarifying about taking short breaks during a practice session? Does that mean to stop all motion in my hand, or does it mean to do mild stretches and massage? I don’t mean that to be a dumb question, I am just so afraid of doing damage again. Thank you so much.
I recommend you stop before it starts hurting. So if you play for 45min and it doesn’t hurt, that is a good place to stop. If you’d like to practice more I would recommend you practice in the morning and then the evening. But even small breaks can sometimes do the trick. Listening to some pro performances while following the score is an excellent non-playing activity. If a 20 min break does the trick great, if not extend it to a longer break. I’ve had hand problems for 20 years and the key is to really know the signs of when to stop before it hurts, not after. Working on relaxation and ergonomics is also important so you get to the root of what is causing the injury.
I just had to deal with this very issue. Because of work, I had to stop playing for two months. What got me back on track, was I opened up the second method book and did a refresh of Part 1 and started playing my favorite Brouwer studies. It was a little frustrating at first; when I noticed that I was not playing at the level I was at before I stopped, but I realized that I didn’t need to be at any particular level and just started practicing. My love of the music carried me the rest of the way. One warning, though, you will have to rebuild those calluses on your fingertips!
Thanks for sharing that! Great to hear you’re back at it.