VO Artist: Welcome to Your Creative Chord Podcast, where host Jenny Leigh Hodgins, author and educator, shares unique insights dedicated to empowering your creative flow and inspired living. Through solo reflections and dialogues with creators and wellness experts, Jenny Lee shares holistic wisdom influenced by her Buddhist practice, alongside poetic insights and practical strategies for living authentically.

[00:00:28] This podcast helps you overcome challenges and unlock your full creative potential.

[00:00:00] Jenny Leigh: Welcome back to Your Creative Chord Podcast. I'm your host, Jenny Leigh. And today I'm going to share three simple shifts that can completely transform your piano practice consistency. If you've ever struggled to stay consistent with your piano practice, today's episode is for you.

I'm sharing these three simple mindset shifts that will transform your routine and help you make real progress. Whether you're a beginner or you're returning to practice after a break or a piano educator, struggling to fit it in. 

Shift number one, embrace imperfection over perfection. That might sound strange that I advocate that because on the flip side, I definitely, espouse the idea that you should practice correctly played music versus practicing your mistakes.

But this mind shift is a little bit different. Let go of the need for perfection and embrace progress. Whether you're aiming to perform or just play for fun, this shift will free you from frustration.

We all know that perfectionism can hold us back. The first mindset shift is to embrace imperfection over perfection. Many piano learners struggle with the idea that every practice session must be perfect, but here's the thing, perfection isn't really the goal.

Progress is the goal.

The key to consistency is showing up, even if you don't feel perfect in your playing. 

One of my own struggles was trying to play through all of my repertoire in a more advanced level than I was ready for. And that kept me kind of hindered in my consistent practice because it felt overwhelming.

Now I focus on progress, not perfection. I take smaller chunks of music, or I play through some of my repertoire and alter other repertoire on different days, so that I can work on everything, but in smaller chunks. So that I'm really practicing in a productive way and improving and feeling good about what I'm doing and not overwhelmed.

This mindset shift toward progress, not perfection, can really also reduce performance anxiety because you're not aiming for perfection. You're just aiming for growth. And the idea of performing and practicing performing is not about the perfection of the performance. It's about learning how to desensitize yourself to the performance scenario, get used to those distractions, and start improving your performances and making them stronger, even if you make mistakes. 

Shift number two is to break practice into smaller manageable chunks, which I kind of combined with shift one up there. But the second shift is really to break it down into manageable pieces.

If you look at your piano practice as this huge overwhelming task, you're likely going to want to avoid it. But by dividing it into smaller focused sessions, like working on one scale or one section of a piece or even one skill at a time, you're making your practice feel more achievable and less intimidating.

And actually you're improving your progress because you're really focusing on the improvement of your skill.

Here's an example from my own experience. When I'm developing a piece for a performance, I don't just play through that whole piece in preparation. First, I break it down into individual sections and sometimes one phrase at a time or one measure at a time or one group of phrases at a time.

Then one section within the piece, and I work on those individual sections as little chunks, because those small chunks and improving those lead to a much more manageable larger chunk. Once I've done the practice, in smaller chunks like that, then I start to try to play through the whole piece in one go.

But I never go to a performance having done that just a few times. When I get to that point and I'm preparing for performance, then I will practice being able to play all the way through the performance without breaks. Even if I make mistakes, even if I don't do it as musically well as I'm aiming for, just practicing the goal, playing through the whole piece in one go, is part of my preparation for performance.

And then I'll keep doing that and add another goal, like, okay, let's, now that we can play it all the way through in one go, let's add being able to play it at tempo. And then I practice that way. 

Or I'll add, let's make sure we do that dynamic contrast between the A and the B section, or whatever. 

Even though I'm preparing for a performance, I still work in practice strategy by chunking sections into smaller, more manageable tasks. And that helps me focus. And by focusing, I'm improving.

So just to recap, practice shift number two is to break your practice into smaller, manageable chunks. Mindset shift number three is to focus on consistency, not the duration, not how much you practice.

This mindset shift is about focusing on consistently, regularly getting to the piano as a regular daily habit. Not on how much you do within that session. It comes much more easily to focus on longer durations of practice routine when you've already established consistency.

What matters most is not how many hours you practice once in a while. What matters most is that you are consistent, even if your sessions are short. Some days, 10 minutes is enough. The key is to make piano practice a habit rather than worrying about how long you practice. 

I never focus on how much time I practice.

I always focus on getting there first consistently and then choosing goals that are chunked down so I can focus on improving something. But by practicing consistently, even in shorter bursts, you're going to develop better habits and a deeper connection with the music. Because by consistently getting there, you're training your muscles, your brain, your memory, and your aural recall, to remember things and recall it better the next day.

When you leave gaps in between, it's a lot harder to do that. In other words, short, frequent sessions work better than long, infrequent sessions. It's less about the hours and more about making piano a regular part of your routine. 

Now let's listen to a segment from one of my earlier talks where I shared these mindset shifts and a few more insights on overcoming the mindset hurdles that prevent us being consistent in our piano practice.

Enjoy this, and I'll be back on the other side to reflect on the key takeaways with you.

 So many people talk about, they don't feel motivated to practice or whatever. Get creative. Do not depend on motivation.

One of my podcast guests, Jill Hodge, who is the podcast host for a wonderful podcast called Let the Verse Flow. She's a writer by profession, but also, through her podcast, she uses writing journal prompts and poetry, her own poetry. We have a lot in common, a lot of overlap. And she said on the topic of motivation, we were talking about inspiration.

And she said, I don't believe in inspiration. I believe in practice. And that is so in sync with my 30 years of experience of being a piano teacher. Player, a professional performer, a piano teacher, dealing with all my thousands of music and piano students, do not depend on motivation. Motivation is for the birds.

 Instead, use a consistent practice routine. As busy adults, it's very easy when you're trying to accomplish a specific thing, in this case, We're talking about piano, but it really applies to anything. You've got to use a consistent practice routine because things will plow into your life.

You've got to learn to prioritize what's really important to you so those things don't interefere. And what I teach students about piano practice is that you have to prioritize, this is tip number three, your time based on your best energy. Prioritize your practice time based on your best energy. 

For me, that's morning time.

So I get up and I work very early and then I Do my piano practice early because it kind of fuels my day. There's so many benefits from piano practice. It boosts your mood. It lowers your stress. It gets your cognitive neurological pathways moving and grooving in a new way. It's a wonderful way to start my day because my energy is best for that in the morning.

And then I go back to work and I work through the afternoon. 

You have to look at your creative energy throughout the day and prioritize your best time. Write it down. Based on your best energy, write down your schedule and don't depend on motivation. It doesn't matter whether you feel like it or not.

Remember consistency and patience are key and don't forget to enjoy the process. 

I've learned that you must be mindful of your musical effort. You have to praise yourself for every effort you are making at the keyboard. You have to embrace the moment to help you find the joy.

I also wanted to share this quote, which was incredibly encouraging to me today, and it ties in with what we're talking about here today.

This is a quote from the English thinker Walter Pater, who lived in 1839 to 1894. He says, "To burn always with this hard, gem like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life." And then my mentor, Daisaku Ikeda, follows up with, "The person who lives life fully glowing with life's energy is the person who lives a successful life."

These quotes really moved my heart and it's so in sync with finding your creative energy. Being able to put yourself in creative flow, treasuring your progress at the piano keyboard. Those of us who are pursuing that energy, making that effort, regardless of whether we're motivated or not, you really do shine and we need more people to do this.

We need more people to be creative, to pursue their creative dreams, to fulfill their authentic expression, whether it's through piano or words or art or something else. I really wanted to share that just to encourage you. 

 Keep yourself open to finding beauty in an ordinary moment. Even at the piano when you're struggling, take a moment to be mindful and really appreciate it. The benefit, the luxury, the advantage, the privilege of being able to make music yourself through your own fingers or through your own voice.

Keep yourself open to finding that beauty in an ordinary moment and put yourself in the consistent seat of practice as Jill Hodge reminds us. It's a practice. So you must continue on a regular basis and get consistent so that the muse may meet you there. And also, keep forging belief in yourself, in your creative potential.

 After hearing my previous recording, consider how these shifts might look in your daily routine. Start small. Maybe pick just one shift to work on this week. And remember, it's not about making big changes overnight, but about creating sustainable habits. 

[00:11:56] Jenny Leigh: Now let's reflect on the three mindset shifts we discussed today. First, embrace imperfection over perfection. Second, break your practice into manageable chunks. And third, focus on consistency, not duration, not how long you practice. 

Which of these shifts would have the biggest impact on your piano practice routine?

Which shift resonates the most with you? Let me know in your review of this episode, or you can share it with me in my New and Returning Piano Learners Facebook group. 

I'd love to hear how these mindset changes are already making a difference in your piano practice.

And let me know which shift you're going to try first or share your own piano practice tips. I'm excited to hear what resonates with you the most. 

If you're looking to unlock your full piano potential and overcome common obstacles experienced by new and returning piano learners, I invite you to grab my free guide, Unlock Your Piano Potential.

This ebook is packed with practical tips to help you start making real progress at the piano, and you can grab it at YourCreativeChord.com/PianoStrategies and it's going to be in the show notes too.

Remember, consistency is key. Small shifts in how you approach your practice can make a big difference over time. Whether you're aiming to master a piece, learn a new skill, or just enjoy playing, the most important thing is to stay consistent and kind to yourself in the process.

 If you're ready to explore these mindset shifts further and make lasting progress, check out my book, Start Piano: What You Need for Successful Learning.

It's the perfect guide to help you build lasting piano habits. Grab your copy at YourCreativeChord.com/BOOKS 

 And if you're looking to deepen your piano journey with personalized guidance, be sure to join the wait list for my Essential Piano Basics Course. 

Visit YourCreativeChord.com/COURSES to sign up and be the first to know when the course reopens. 

As you embrace these mindset shifts in your piano practice, remember every little step in your practice is one step closer to your piano goals. Keep practicing with consistency and you will see the results. Every step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to the enjoyment of reaching those piano goals and I'll be cheering you on as you embrace these mindset shifts and continue on your musical path.

Until next time, start with your mindset. And know that your piano progress is guaranteed. 

[00:14:44] VO Artist: Thank you for listening to Your Creative Chord Podcast. If you found inspiration in today's episode, please leave a review and subscribe to the show. Your support helps spread the message of creativity and inspired living. Stay connected with Jenny Leigh and a vibrant community of creatives and curious minds.

Visit YourCreativeChord.com for more resources. Remember daily life is where your creative flow begins. Embrace the journey.