Practice makes perfect, but to practice to a high standard you must first assume the mindset of practicing. This means no distractions. If you want the quality of practice and visible results, you need to find a way to focus on your practice.
The easiest way to focus is to commit space for this purpose. Now, this is easier said than done. We can’t all commit a room of our homes to a dedicated musical space, but perhaps there is a room in your house where you face the least distraction. This can be pivotal in your guitar practice.
The room you practice in should be free from common distractions, make sure there is no TV there. When you’re in this room for practicing, be sure to adopt the practice mindset. You might have your phone or laptop to view some notes or practice materials, but when you’re in this space, don’t be tempted to use this to check your social media or catch up on your emails. Switch your work mind off and focus on your guitar mind.
Perhaps you have a spare room or a home office, or maybe your bedroom can become your safe haven or your dining room. The type of room isn’t important. What’s important is the mindset you apply to that room when you walk through the door with your guitar in hand. You’re entering that room to work and to create a positive result for yourself.
Before you start your practice session, make sure you are prepared. Get your materials ready and have a goal of what you hope to achieve in that practice session. You might plan on staying in that room for 10 minutes or 10 hours, but when you are in that mind space, push yourself and get the most from it.
If you have a goal with your guitar lessons, no matter how big or small, use these practice sessions to make measurable steps towards that goal. Think about what you’re working on, how can you improve it? Is there a way you can get that chord change fast? Perhaps you’re trying to get a lick to sound more fluid, think about what aspects aren’t flowing the way you hear it in your head.
This space is the place you go each time you sit down with your guitar. As I said, you want it to be distraction-free so that you can focus on the task at hand. This is not always possible, perhaps sometimes you have to practice in a room with the chance of distraction. This is where the mindset becomes essential. No matter what you’re learning, there is always a way to create this practice space. Having a room is just the first step.
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Effective guitar practice starts with a focused mindset. A dedicated space can help, but preparation and clear goals let you make progress wherever you practise.