Many musicians flinch at the sound of a squeak, a rough note, or a moment out of tune. We tense up, recoil, and let our desire to sound “good” take over. But what if sounding bad was actually part of the process?

It’s so easy to get pulled out of practice by a ping, a message, or the temptation to scroll. Even when we’re trying to practice, our devices often make it harder to stay focused.

There’s a popular saying that if your practice sounds good, you’re doing it wrong. But is that really true?

Sometimes the fastest way forward in your music practice is to pause and slow things right down. It can feel frustrating — like you’re not progressing — but learning to focus with patience is one of the most effective tools you have.

You might feel proud of squeezing your warmups into your commute, or getting through scales while watching Netflix. But if your practice time feels stale or ineffective, this might be why.

There are so many things in music we can't control—competitions, critics, followers, algorithms. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing outcomes that are ultimately out of our hands.

Sometimes your emotions feel too big (or too dull!) to practice through. But what if you could use them?

We’ve all been there — you hit a mistake in your music practice, cringe, stop, and go back. But if we always stop for every mistake in the practice room, how can we expect to play through them in performance?

Think recording your practice is only for confident musicians? You’re not alone if you feel nervous or awkward hearing yourself.

Do you carry tension in your body when you practice or perform? You’re not alone. Many musicians hold physical tension without realizing it, and that tension can affect your playing, singing, and focus.