Piano Practice Plan - Let's Get to Work!

July 30, 2025 / Lani Elston

Time to Get Some Real Practice in at the Piano!

Being efficient with your time at the piano isn’t just smart, it’s essential to making progress. So let’s chat about creating a practice plan… and not just something you stare at.

When it comes to playing the piano—whether you're 8 or 80—having a plan is important. But let’s be real, a beautifully detailed practice plan that never gets used is no better than a blank page.

I think we’ve all been there: you set aside time, sit at the piano, open your music, and… freeze. Maybe you open your notebook and read the notes from your piano teacher or you pause to admire your own ambitious goals. Whatever it is, the most important thing to remember is that staring at your notes doesn’t make music. Practicing does.

So how can you turn a well-intentioned practice session into real progress?

DO: Create a Thoughtful Practice Plan

An effective practice plan gives your time at the piano direction and purpose. It helps you avoid wandering aimlessly from piece to piece and prevents you from mindlessly playing your music from start to finish over and over again.

Here’s an example of what a simple practice plan might include:

Warm-Up (5 minutes): Practice your scales & arpeggios. Teacher Tip: practice the scales & arpeggios found in your music to maximize your practice session.
Current Repertoire (25–45 minutes): Choose at least 2 piano pieces to focus on, preferably contrasting style.
Areas of Focus (5-10 minutes): Concentrate on the most difficult sections/measures of each piece.
Sight Reading or Improvisation (5–10 minutes): Keep it fun and expectations minimal. Pick a short piece or a few measures of a longer one to sight read. Teacher tip: use your next piece to get a jump start on it before you finish your current repertoire.
Review (5-10 minutes): Revisit an old piece you enjoy and know well. A quick run through is great for maintaining music you’ve previously polished.

DON’T: Obsess Over the Plan Without Playing

Planning is a tool, not a performance.

It’s easy to feel like you’re being productive by organizing and re-organizing your practice notes, highlighting tempo markings, or watching tutorials instead of… well, practicing.

Don’t let perfectionism or procrastination disguise themselves as productivity! A plan is a guide—not a replacement for the real work.

Mindset Matters: Why Action Beats Intention

A finished plan feels good, but results only come from consistent, focused effort. Playing through a piece—even imperfectly—teaches you far more than overthinking your next steps.

So instead of asking:

“What’s the best way to practice the piano?”

Ask:

“What can I start doing right now to improve?”

Then do it—flawed, messy, and all. That’s how learning happens.

Tips to Stay on Track

Set mini-goals for each session. (Ex: “Play measures 9–16 hands together, slowly and without pauses.”)
Use a timer. Short bursts of focus are often more productive than long and often times distracted sessions.
Record yourself. Recording yourself is an excellent tool for improving! Make sure to follow along with your score while listening and take notes on what you need to work on.
Reflect. At the end of your practice session, think about what you did great, what could have been better, and what you may have learned from the practice session. Apply these lessons to future moments at the piano.

Final Thoughts

Creating a practice plan is fantastic, but don’t fall into the trap of just admiring it. Get yourself to the piano and start practicing! Miss some notes and make some mistakes… then fix them :). Be proud of yourself and remember: Progress comes from playing the piano, not just planning.

Questions? Feel free to contact me anytime. - Lani

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