Practice “In Time”: The Key to Musical Mastery

During a lesson, I occasionally ask students to practice as if I’m not there, just like they would at home. The feedback I give after observing is almost always the same: “practice in time.” This advice is beneficial regardless of a player’s level. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced musicians all stand to gain from it.

Music unfolds over time, unlike visual art forms where the entire piece can be observed instantly. A five-minute piece of music requires five minutes to be fully appreciated.

Similarly, imagine a classical concert where a musician stops to correct a mistake and then asks everyone to back up a few bars. This scenario is absurd, yet it’s the dynamic invoked when stopping to correct errors during practice.

There are moments to stop the clock and work out a specific fingering, phrase, or exercise. In these moments, there’s no rhythm or pulse to disrupt. This “timeless” practice usually constitutes a small portion of the overall practice session. While you can learn content quickly, it takes time for your muscles to know it well enough to play it correctly on demand.

Once a phrase is under your fingers, playing it in time is much more effective. Playing a piece in time, but allowing yourself to stop and correct mistakes, undermines your progress.

Sight-Reading

Even if you don’t read music, understanding the sight-reading process is crucial:

Before playing, quickly glance over the form of the piece and note anything unusual, such as odd phrases or extreme notes.
Play the piece through without stopping.
Review only the sections you missed on the first run and go over them briefly.
Play the entire piece again without stopping.
If the same mistakes recur, it’s time to practice those spots specifically.

To practice troublesome spots, you may initially work on them out of time. Once you get the phrase down, build it up to tempo by:

Knowing your goal tempo.
Understanding your current tempo.
Doing four correct repetitions at your current tempo with a metronome before increasing the speed.
Keeping a journal to track progress, noting the date and current speed for challenging sections.

Strumming Chords

When switching chords, it’s natural to focus on the fretting hand. But if you focus on the strumming hand and maintain a steady rhythm, even if it means the fretting hand isn’t ready, you practice in time. This approach:

Helps you hear how the piece should sound, even at a slow pace.
Creates a sense of momentum.
Forces the fretting hand to make chord changes faster because it has to keep up with the strumming hand.

This method is akin to “cramming” before a deadline. In times of pressure, we often perform tasks faster because we must. In chord switching, the fretting hand adapts quickly to maintain the rhythm.

Two important points:

The strumming hand should go slow enough for the fretting hand to keep up, but with a bit of a challenge.
Decide which finger lands first for each chord and correct as you play. Never stop the strum pattern! This keeps you playing music rather than just making chords.

It takes practice, self-discipline, and developing your ears to listen beyond what your hands are doing, especially if you practice with a metronome. Remember, music is an art that unfolds over time.

Effective Practice Strategies

Practicing “in time” aligns with effective music education strategies. Research shows that using a metronome or backing track helps musicians develop a strong sense of timing and rhythm. A study published in the Journal of Research in Music Education found that using a metronome can significantly improve a musician’s timing and rhythmic accuracy over time.

Breaking down music into smaller sections and gradually increasing the tempo, as described in the sight-reading section, is supported by cognitive psychology. Distributed practice, or breaking practice into smaller chunks, leads to better retention and skill acquisition compared to massed practice.

Benefits of Practicing “In Time”

Enhanced Musicianship

Practicing in time helps develop a musician’s internal sense of rhythm, which is crucial for playing in ensembles, sight-reading, and improvisation.

Efficient Learning

Focusing on playing in time helps musicians identify and address specific areas of difficulty more effectively, leading to more efficient learning. Musicians who practice with a focus on rhythmic accuracy make more significant progress (McPherson & Renwick, 2001).

Building Muscle Memory

Consistent, timed practice builds muscle memory, allowing musicians to execute complex passages with ease, which is essential for technical proficiency and performance under pressure.

Developing a Professional Mindset

Practicing in time instills precision, discipline, and consistency, essential for success in any musical career, whether as a performer, teacher, or composer.

Practical Tips for Practicing “In Time”

Use a Metronome

Incorporate a metronome into your practice to maintain a steady tempo. Start slow and gradually increase the speed.

Record Your Practice

Recording your practice sessions helps identify areas for improvement and track progress over time.

Practice with Backing Tracks

Playing with backing tracks simulates real performance conditions and enhances your ability to stay in time with other musicians.

Break Down Complex Passages

For challenging sections, break them down into smaller phrases and practice each phrase in time, gradually piecing them together.

Focus on Consistency

Consistency is key to developing good practice habits. Practice regularly, even if for shorter durations, to maintain progress.

Conclusion

Practicing “in time” is crucial for musical development, benefiting musicians of all levels. Incorporating structured, timed practice into your routine enhances musicianship, improves learning efficiency, builds muscle memory, and develops a professional mindset. Music is a time art, and mastering the element of time in your practice leads to more confident and polished performances.

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