The timer--my new best friend!

Hello all,
As I mentioned in my last post, sometimes I have a hard time concentrating when I practice.  It's the truth!  There are a number of things that distract me from focused, efficient practice, such as:

My grocery list (food is very important to me)
Calls from my students
Thinking about my students
My outfit (clothes are ALSO very important to me)
Clothes I wish I had (see above)
Emails
The mess in my apartment
An itch on my nose
The spider crawling across the carpet
The ticking of the clock
Bills to pay
Wanting to talk with my husband
The inviting sunshine outside
Wondering what is going to happen in the next episode of Castle
and the list goes on and on...
You name it, it's a distraction.

So, what do I do to get myself back on task?  I've heard many times of using a timer to help your children practice, but I never considered it as a technique that would be applicable to me.  HOWEVER,
I've started using the TimeTag app (available from the app store) on my iPad, and it has changed the way I practice.  I can keep track of how much time I spend on each piece, write notes on what I did, and color-code everything.  It makes my little OCD heart so happy.  When the timer is running, I know it is time to practice, and therefore not time for ANYTHING ELSE.  It is not time for getting a drink, going to the bathroom, or sending a quick email.  It is practice time.  If one of those things absolutely must be done, I stop the timer, get it done, and come back.  It surprised me at first how slow the time went before I had reached an hour of actual practice time, but then I realized how much of what I considered my "practice hours" must have been filled with puttering.  Shameful, really.

As I mentioned, another perk of using the timer, is how I can keep track of how much I practiced each piece.  I have a TON of music to learn for my upcoming audition, and it is overwhelming!  I created a "tag" for each piece on my TimeTag app, and can keep track of how much I have practiced each one over the past months.  It is important not to get too bogged down in one piece, I want to get through every piece every two days.  I have an allotted twenty minutes for each piece, and the timer keeps me aware of how much time has passed.  Because I know I only have a limited number of minutes for each piece, I am more likely to focus and really get things done.

The timer is proving to be incredibly helpful as I prepare for my audition.  I highly suggest the use of a timer as a practice tool for students and professionals alike!!