Learning an Instrument: How to set realistic goals and stick to them

Sometimes, learning an instrument can get frustrating. You may feel like even after hours and hours of practice you aren’t getting anywhere, or what you’re learning isn’t helping you to progress enough. 

Here are some tips to help you maintain your practice and stay realistic in your progress

Why setting goals can help 

Learning an instrument is a great thing to do, but a lot of the time we also need motivation to progress. Set some goals! 

• Big goals - think about what you want to achieve as your ultimate goal. Do you want to perform in a concert? Complete all the music exams such as ABRSM? There are many possibilities. These types of goals take a long time, but they can be a great motivation to keep going.

• Small goals - when learning, we don't want to concentrate just on the big goals but have smaller ones along the way. This can help us build confidence and motivation in our practice for each lesson. This may be as small as perfecting one bar or line of music, working on your technique for a particular piece, playing in front of a friend or family member. 

Having small goals can help us avoid burnout, while the bigger goals keep us progressing and stay motivated. 

Keeping your practice goals realistic

Everyone learns at a different pace with different strengths and weaknesses. Think about your skill level and set your smaller goals accordingly. 

• Beginner goals - work towards getting the basics down. Set goals to master beginner scales and correct positioning.

• Intermediate and advanced goals - focus on technique, musicality, and performance to improve your playing. Set yourself a challenge of learning a more difficult piece or something out of your comfort zone to push yourself to progress.

Breaking down your goals into manageable sections

Be specific in your goal setting. Break down your current goal into manageable chunks in a practice journal or your notebook.

•  If you're learning a new scale, think about setting a goal to practice it for 5-10 minutes a day, working to memorise it with the correct patterns. 

• If you’re learning a new piece, break it down into smaller sections or phrases, look at the techniques, articulation and dynamics you will need, and work slowly to master the rhythm and correct placement. 

Build a consistent practice routine

By being consistent in your practice, progression comes at a steady pace. 

• Setting a realistic routine of practice for each week will help you stay consistent. If you’re balancing work or school, look at your schedule and find the best time for you. 

• When will you have the best motivation and energy to practice? Would setting some time aside before work or school be more productive for you? If you struggle with concentrating for extended periods of time, would splitting up your practice benefit you?

• Having a consistent everyday practice schedule, even if its shorter, is much more beneficial than sporadic long practice sessions.

Overcoming Obstacles

Sometimes we can hit a bit of a wall making it feel like we aren’t making any progress; this can be discouraging, but don’t give up! If there is something in particular you are struggling with, slow it down to a snail’s pace and take it one note at a time. 

• If you are feeling stuck, play some of the favourite pieces you’ve learned, or learn something fun and new. It’s ok to take small breaks from something you are struggling with but keep going! Look back at your old pieces and lesson notes and see how much you have progressed since starting to learn. Celebrate the small victories and the progress you have made so far!

• If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your goals, stay flexible and adjust your goals. This can apply to your schedule as well; if you have busier periods, adjust your schedule but stay consistent. Even practicing just 10 minutes a day can be beneficial.

• Avoid unhealthy perfectionism. Making mistakes is a part of learning. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t fix a mistake in one practice session. Sometimes waiting until your next lesson for your teacher’s help is the best course of action. Take a break and try again later. Remember, even professional musicians make mistakes!

Bonus motivation tips

• Mix up your practice routine. Try a new piece, style, exercise, or improvisation. This will keep things fresh and varied.

• Make practice fun and creative. Try learning a new piece with a friend, find games or activities to help your practice.

  
  
  
  

Learning an instrument: How to set realistic goals and stick to them

I hope these tips are helpful for you to stay motivated in your musical goals!

Upcoming topics:

Keeping a practice journal 

Using your practice time wisely

Helpful tools for learning