如果你家裡有小孩在學習樂器，練琴常常成為讓家長苦惱、孩子發愁、甚至衝突的導火線，以下由NPR(國家公共廣播公司)整理提供的十大練習樂器要訣，讓你掌握更聰明練習方法，讓練習變得更輕鬆，更事半功倍，對親子關係也很有幫助喔！
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1 找個安靜的地方：
練習時當然要找個沒有多餘聲音的地方，但此處的安靜不光是指沒有聲音，而是要進入一個特別的練習場域，不論是個房間或者只是屋內一角，這有助於作好進入心智高度專注活動前的心理準備，養成進入同一個場域練習的習慣會對快速集中注意力更有幫助。
2 一切所需準備就緒：
把需要的東西放在手邊，例如鉛筆、削筆器、乾淨的橡皮擦。這些容易忘記的小東西如果不在手邊，一旦要找可會浪費大把的練習時間。
3 科技能幫上大忙：
只要不沉迷其中，像節拍器、調音器、計時器的 app 都很方便又實用。
4 預設目標：
單純玩樂器跟練習是不一樣的，在開始練習前應先思考「今天我要做到什麼程度？」不確定的話可以與老師討論，並紀錄下來，便能朝著目標邁進。
5 建立練習模式：
許多音樂家開練前都由某些特定曲目或呼吸練習起步，先練音階也是常見的暖身方式，能幫助人放鬆肌肉並專心思考接下來真正要面對的困難，最後可以即興演奏或重奏你熟悉的樂段作為結束，讓身心舒緩下來。
6 聰明練習不必很長：
如果有明確的目標，把困難分階段解決會比一次想要解決所有問題容易些。科學研究告訴我們，人的專注力是有限的，如果遇到一個很難的段落，可以試著設定一段時間，例如10分鐘，在這10分鐘裡只應付一個問題、盡其所能的以各種方法練習，試著克服它，如果10分鐘過去還是無法攻克，那就記著明天再回來練它。這樣能最大程度的運用有限的時間與腦力，下次再練時能成功的機會將大得多。
7 不要每次都從頭開始：
雖然能從頭優美的演奏一首曲子讓人感覺超棒，但既然專注力有限，實在不必每次都從第一小節起跑，免得耗費太多心神。
8 做些身體方面的改變：
當要挑戰特別困難的段落時，科學家建議可以搭配某些有難度的肢體動作，例如單腳站或邊走邊演奏，這會讓大腦塑造出新的神經迴路，當還原成一般狀態演奏時，原本的困難會變得容易一些。
9 不用樂器也能練：
許多音樂家像運動員一樣採用視覺化，他們以不拿樂器的方式演奏，試著帶上樂譜，在片段閒暇時間－例如等車的時候，拿出來靜靜的讀。
10 重溫困難的樂曲：
積極重練困難的曲子，找到喜歡的方式，會幫助大腦建立習慣迴路，能自動養成有助增進技巧的演奏習慣。
下期預告：如何讓孩子高高興興練琴去 Getting Kids To Practice Music — Without Tears Or Tantrums
資料來源：MUZIK Online & NPR Music
10 Easy Ways To Optimize Your Music Practice
by Anastasia Tsioulcas
The piece in that series that struck the biggest chord (har, har) was titled "Getting Kids to Practice Music — Without Tears Or Tantrums"; it's been one of our most popular posts all year. And we promised ourselves that we'd circle back to the topic of how to practice effectively around the time of a new school year. But these tips are effective for anyone who plays an instrument or sings.
1. Find somewhere quiet. This seems too obvious for words, but not only will you be far less likely to succumb to all sorts of distractions, but entering a special practice area, whether it's a certain room or just a corner of the living room, will help prepare you mentally for this very particular kind of work. Mindful intention is everything, and having the ritual of going to the same place every time can help set that intention.
2. Have your supplies nearby. I really love cellist David Finckel's "Cello Talks" 100-video series on YouTube; you don't have to play cello to get a lot out of many of them. Some of what he covers seems like impossibly basic advice — as in the discussion (below) of his practice space. Part of his advice is to keep a pencil sharpener and a very clean eraser within arm's reach, along with a pencil to mark up your music. Simple, right? But those little things are easy to forget, and if you have to go searching for them, add up to a big waste of time.
3. Technology can be an amazing aid — as long as you don't spend too much time futzing with it. Three free or low-cost apps I have on my phone and iPad: a metronome, a tuner and a timer, which are all essential tools for practicing. And I always have my phone with me (see above)
4. Begin with the end in mind: Have a goal for each practice session before you start playing. Just playing through your music isn't the same thing as practicing. Before you start, think: What do I want to accomplish today? If you're not sure what you need to focus on, ask your teacher for a few concrete goals to work toward before the next lesson — and write them down so that you can refer to them during your practice sessions.
5. Map a practice session out like a workout. Lots of musicians start with a few actual stretches and breathing exercises before they pick up their instruments. Even if you don't go quite that far, a pretty common scenario is to start with scales as a warm-up, to loosen up your muscles and get your brain thinking about technique; move on to the "working" part where you analyze and try to solve problems; then cool down by improvising or revisiting some music you already know well
6. Practice smarter, not necessarily longer. You'll probably accomplish a whole lot more in a short amount of time if you have a very focused objective — and science tells us that we have a limited amount of willpower to draw upon anyway. So make the most of the time you have. Say you are having trouble with two very tricky measures. Set your timer for a short period (like five or 10 minutes), and then work just on one problem in as many ways as you can — break it down into even smaller and more manageable bits, go super slow, try to play the passage backwards, change the rhythm, whatever. If that trouble spot is still giving you agita, then make yourself a mental note to come back to that section again tomorrow. Chances are it will be much, much easier the next time around
7. Don't always start at the beginning every time. Remember what I said about maximizing your time and your willpower? This. It can feel really good to hear yourself playing the beginning of a piece beautifully, but you may wind up wasting the limited time and energy you have. (Also, it leads to performances that start strong and then, well, wilt.)
8. Challenge yourself — physically. Especially if you're trying to wrestle down an element that you find problematic, scientific researchers say that if you add a physical challenge to the difficult task, such as trying to play that part while standing on one leg or while walking, your brain is likely to start carving out new neural pathways — and the original task will be easier when you return to just doing that.
9. Practice away from your instrument. Many musicians use visualization in the same way that athletes do: They run through their music without touching their instruments. Try bringing your music along with you (either on paper or a mobile device) when you know you'll have some downtime, such as during a car or train ride, and read through the piece silently.