Maybe You Shouldn’t Be Practicing

By Anne Sullivan 

I bet no one has ever told you NOT to practice. We harpists need to practice every day, right?

Yes, that’s true, but it’s important that you are practicing for the right reasons. Practicing for the wrong reasons will make your practice boring and unproductive. Practicing for the right reasons on the other hand will make your practice fun and will accelerate your progress, which is even more fun.  Check out what we think are some right and wrong reasons to practice.

1. Don’t practice just because someone else tells you you should. Your practice is for you, not for them, and you know you should practice.
2. Don’t practice just because you have to. Practice is all about playing the harp, and you want to play the harp, right?
3. Don’t practice just because. Don’t tell us you can’t find a better reason than that?

On the other hand, you should...

…Practice because you love music and the harp and it’s fun to play well.

…Practice because it feels good to improve and make progress.

…Practice because it is what good harpists do to become excellent harpists.

Practice isn’t punishment. It’s freedom. In the words of the French author and philosopher Albert Camus, “Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” 

Practice and be free!