What’s the best way to measure your practice?
For a practice challenge in the Aces right now, my students are keeping track of the number of sessions they practice as well as the number of minutes. (The leading section, the Baritones, practiced 385 minutes in 2 weeks, or approximately 95 minute per person.) Their sessions were also the highest among the group, with 24 practice sessions over two weeks.
I like to measure and value both, because they are measuring different things. Certainly the total number of minutes you practice is going to impact your growth. But the number of times you practice in a given period also will impact your success – both because spaced repetition is among the most effective ways to attain growth in practice, and because practice regularly is the best way to turn practice into a sustainable habit.
For young musicians, especially, valuing both minutes and sessions is essential to foster the practice habit.