Practice journal reflections for musicians: finding joy and play

As musicians, it can be so easy to fall into the trap of constant improvement, and perfectionism that we often forget to find the joy in what we do…we “play” an instrument, so why can’t we make practice it fun?

Disclaimer: to be completely honest, when creating a list of these, I went down a rabbit hole about creating joy in your practice while tapping into your authentic voice while performing, and had to pare down my questions into categories. So I guess this can be read as a preamble to future reflections on digging out your authentic self through your music, and then using that to create joy.

So let’s get started, with some reflection questions to get us thinking about the joy we have in our practice routines, things we already do, things we could do, or why we may not be currently doing anything.

Can you find places in your practice today to be playful or find joy?

What does that look like to you?

Be specific and descriptive. Try to envision how that feels to you, and if you can imagine it right down to the senses. Sometimes it can be letting our own character shine through the music. Sometimes it could be turning any exercises we do into games.

For me, I love a challenge, so sometimes I make a game out of trying to memorize the hardest passages I’m working on. And then see if I can layer on the distractions. Sometimes I try to play around with different characters I can find in whatever music I’m working on. I also like to dance in my practice room.

If you’re not used to it, what would it look like (to you) to practice with a sense of freedom and play, instead of pressure or perfectionism?

Again, be specific and descriptive. Really try to focus on how that feels to you in your imagination if you’re able to. Does it feel different than what you’re used to? I really think you should try it.

Is there anything stopping you from flooding your practice with playfulness? If so, what is it?

Okay, so what’s preventing you from doing this in the first place? Can you put whatever it is aside briefly or let go of it, and give it a try?

For me, I used to let mistakes frustrate me, and “the shoulds” prevent me from really getting in touch with playfulness and intentional joy while I practice. I wasn’t really in touch with my whimsies in the practice room for a long time. Now I try to see mistakes and challenging moments from a neutral standpoint - they exist, and are neither good nor bad. They just are. And I let go of any shame I might feel surrounding the challenging moments, and adjust how I’m approaching what I’m practicing on to what I need in that moment. Not what yesterday-me needed, not what my perfectionist brain thinks I should need, and not what the expensive papers on my wall staring me down while I practice (or struggle) think I should need. I find this incredibly helpful to do so I can then bring joy intentionally into my practice.

So give it a try. We can’t find out the result of something unless we put it into practice.

If any of this helps or sparks your interest, I’d love to hear about it.

If you’re looking for a flute teacher, wanting to try flute lessons, or looking to add more tools to your practice routine I have space available in my online studio. I have a lot of options to choose from, so if you’d like to work with me, but would like to chat about your interests and goals, let me know by clicking here and we can see what’s a right fit for you.