#AskVidasAndAusra 29 - I don't have enough time to practice

No time to practice
For swallow his loops but he
​Does it anyway.

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Today's question was sent by Robert. He's struggling to find time for practice.

Listen to our full answer at #AskVidasAndAusra

​Please send us your questions. We love helping you grow.

​TRANSCRIPT:

Vidas:    Today is Part 29 of #Ask#VidasAndAusra podcast. Today's question was sent by Robert. His challenge in organ practice is really finding time. Like a lot of people, once you sit down on the organ bench, you can do a lot of things. But sitting down at the organ bench is the most difficult thing and the most challenging part is probably finding the time.

Ausra how did you find time recently for practice? Is it easy for you or do you have to really dig deep into your schedule?

Ausra:    Well right now it's actually easy because I'm on vacation. I'm not teaching at school right now but in general yes it's very hard, while teaching full time and working at the university as an organist, leading Unda Maris organ studio and doing just the domestic stuff. So it's always very hard to find time but I think it's a common problem for many people.

Vidas:    You cannot really escape this.

Ausra:    Sure. We just know that that's how important for you it is.

Vidas:    How badly do you want to learn?

Ausra:    Yes. How bad you want to learn to play or to practice or to learn new stuff. I think if it's important for you, you will be able to find some time to practice. Maybe not a lot time every day but still you’ll sit down and play.

Vidas:    Ausra, when you schedule and you decide on a public performance of some sort, solo or together with me, is it easier for you then to force yourself to find time?

Ausra:    Sure, of course, because I have a deadline waiting. It's like a sword hanging over my head and know then I have to practice anyway.

Vidas:    It's a public accountability, right?

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    People depend on you. Even just one person you don't want to let him down, right?

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    And your listeners, your fans also will be waiting and probably planning already to come to your recital. If you're not practicing, you're letting them down too.

Ausra:    Sure. Of course, when you practice and then you find time to practice, make your practices as efficient as you can. That's another thing that can save you time and compensate the lack of practice time.

Vidas:    Do you think most people could find at least 15 to 30 minutes a day to practice?

Ausra:    I'm sure they could.

Vidas:    Because we waste time with our phone, with social media, right?

Ausra:    TV.

Vidas:    Sometimes people don't even watch TV they just look at the screen nowadays. YouTube, right?

Ausra:    Yes.

Vidas:    That's a big thing. During those idle moments you could really practice. Even if you're not at the instrument itself, you can practice at the table, right?

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    It still counts. It still is organ practice if you are getting closer to your goals.

Ausra:    Yes, and if you are thinking about music which you will be performing, singing in your head adds a lot too. I remember when studying at The Academy of Music I would have to go by public transportation for at least half an hour to 40 minutes so I would just keep singing in my mind, going through my organ music.

Vidas:    When commuting.

Ausra:    Yes, it would help actually.

Vidas:    Yeah. What we do with our time when we sit and wait in line, for example, at the supermarket. Or what we do in our mind when we sit on the bus or the train when we commute. When we don't have to do something really with our hands or mental activity, then we can really jump in and start mental practice.

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    Mm-hmm (affirmative). That's sometimes all it takes, right? But probably the most important takeaway is probably finding this public accountability, right?

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    If you're just practicing for yourself, chances are that you will not stick with it. You have to stick with organ playing at least for 67 days in order to form a habit. That's a scientifically proven number of days. After that it becomes a little bit easier each day if you stick with it for 67 days. But it's a still long period of time, right Ausra?

Ausra:    Yes it is.

Vidas:    Some people can prepare for recital in 67 days, right?

Ausra:    Yeah definitely.

Vidas:    Right. That's the most critical part of your plan to stick for 67 days. The best way is to really announce that you are going to play in public. I'm not saying you have to play entire recital, right? Maybe just one piece for church service.

Ausra:    Yes.

Vidas:    That would be great for starters. Even if you are not a church organist, maybe you have friends who are, right? And announce to them, "Hey I want to come to your church in a couple of months and play this piece for communion or postlude."

Ausra:    Definitely.

Vidas:    If they are your friends, they will definitely let you and you will have, of course, public accountability this way. And you will force yourself to find time.

Ausra:    Sure.

Vidas:    Okay do we have some trainings that we could offer to people that would be helpful about finding time?

Ausra:    I think so. I think we did that course about finding time to practice.

Vidas:    Right. It's really very comprehensive. We sat down and recorded and brainstormed all the ideas. Not like in 7 or 10 minutes like today but for a long time we sat down and gave examples from our life and other things how we really manage to find time and more ideas than today. So if you are struggling with this I think this course, Finding Practice Time, would be-

Ausra:    Helpful.

Vidas:    Yeah people say that. Right now, of course, you can take advantage of 30 day free trial of Total Organist and of course you would be free of to take Finding Practice Time together with any other courses that you would like during that time. So go ahead and check this out at www.organduo.lt/total-organist.

Okay this was Vidas.

Ausra:    And Ausra.

Vidas:    And remember, when you practice -

Ausra:    Miracles happen.