Perfecting Your Practice on Ukulele

Practicing is one of the most important things you can do as a musician, whether you’re an absolute beginner or seasoned professional. Yet, to the detriment of their musicianship, many ukulele players have poor practicing habits—for instance, running through things that they already know, reinforcing mistakes, or just noodling around—or choose to avoid practicing altogether.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be focusing on tips for practicing smarter and more efficiently, so you can make the best use of your time in the proverbial woodshed—and ultimately take your playing to the next level. But first, here are some core concepts to keep in mind whenever you practice, whatever you’re working on.

Play as slowly as you need to

It might be tempting to take a fast piece at tempo from the get-go, but remember that in order to master it, you’ll reap benefits by starting at the speed at which you can play it cleanly, gradually increasing the tempo until you’ve got it down.

If it doesn’t sound right, stop and figure out why

Rather than gloss over a phrase that seems off kilter, take a moment to understand what’s going on. Are you playing the wrong pitch or rhythm? Are you not articulating the note(s) cleanly? Identify and correct problems before proceeding.  

Listen critically, but don’t criticize yourself

This ties into making it sound right. Beating yourself up can lead to frustration and discourage you from practicing, so try to listen objectively to your playing, zeroing in on mistakes without judgment. To this end, it can be helpful to record yourself to watch later.

Take frequent, short breaks to rest your hands and mind

In the worst cases, powering through practice sessions can lead to permanent injury. As with any physical activity, always remember to periodically set down your instrument, stretch, and clear your head. Tending to your body and mind will go a long way toward establishing healthier and more productive practice routines.

Be musical

Practicing isn’t just about techniques and skills, it’s about expression and feeling, too. Don’t make the mistake of thinking, First I’ll learn the notes, then I’ll add the music. Everything you practice—whether a scales, chord progressions, or song—gives you an opportunity to work on being musical.