Why aren't you practicing more?

We all know we should be practising, so what’s stopping us?

There is a lot of research that supports the fact that practising little and often is the key for skill development. And there are so many potential skills to develop in order to be a singer (that’s another blog…!)

Unfortunately, there are just as many barriers or obstacles to practising as there are things to learn. And what’s worse, being aware of the potential obstacles to practice is only part of the solution - we also need strategies or tools to help us mitigate the obstacles as much as possible.

Never fear!

Here are a list of common obstacles and considerations for reducing or removing them, so that singing practice can be effective, efficient and enjoyable.

Lack of Knowledge

It can be hard to know how to approach practice. Especially given how vast the field of singing/music is - where do we begin? It’s also not uncommon to have never been taught how to practice; especially in a way that is personalised for you. Lack of knowledge can lead to slow change or lack of results (or complete avoidance!) which can consequently affect motivation or confidence.

There are a number of ways to increase your knowledge of how to practice.

Recording your practice and reviewing it - on your own or with a teacher - can help to build knowledge about what works well for you. Journalling may do the same. Take time to identify challenges and consider the different approaches available to you.

If you are studying with a teacher, they should be able to model effective practice within lessons - take note of how they structure the lessons, setting intentions for the session in the same way you might set goals for your practice session.

If you’re going alone, then seek out resources that help expand your knowledge of practice approaches: thesingersguide.com has lots of resources on this topic.

Lack of Confidence

Low confidence can have an impact on a number of singing-related areas, but in practice it can lead to inefficiency and slow progress/avoidance - further knocking the confidence vital to achieve results and perform to our best.

Increasing knowledge can also increase confidence in singing practice, and so strategies above can be beneficial here too; journalling, and recording/reviewing can encourage a reflective approach to practice that builds confidence.

Setting achievable goals for practice sessions can also help build confidence. In addition, positive feedback is vital to inspire confidence so make sure to identify what is going well and where things are working instead of solely highlighting areas of challenge or areas you wish were improved.

Lack of Fun/Spontaneity

For some, activities need to be novel, creative or fun in order to motivate practice. If you are someone who is driven by challenge or curiosity, then a rigid or repetitive/methodical approach might be causing you to avoid practice or see slower results than you would like.

There is not ‘one right way’ to practice; the best way is the one you find enjoyable and motivating.

Start by looking into what you love about singing and exploring options to bring those elements into practice. For example, incorporating emotion and performance into singing technique exercises, working on improvisation or transcription, or using informal practice types such as group singing.

Lack of Motivation

Low motivation is a common practice obstacle, sometimes as a result of lacking knowledge, confidence and/or fun, and sometimes as a result of numerous other factors including low mood, tiredness or certain neurodivergencies.

Motivation can be addressed by increasing knowledge, confidence and fun; journalling, goal-setting and making practice something to enjoy can all help to increase motivation.

While internal motivation is enough for some folk, others require external motivators to increase practice. If this is the case, setting deadlines or committing to performances/recordings/rehearsals can provide a little pressure to keep you on track.

Lack of Focus

Focus can be distracted by internal or external factors. Internal thoughts or unclear goals can affect focus, as can a busy or disorganised practice environment or notifications from devices - especially social media apps!

Focus can be improved by having a clear goal for each practice session - something to keep you accountable to the task at hand.

Additionally, creating a practice environment that is set up to keep you focussed may be beneficial; keeping the area decluttered, making sure the resources you need are at hand, and turning your phone on ‘aeroplane mode’ are all ways to minimise distractions. You could also use tools such as timers and rewards systems to help further.

Lack of Time

A lack, or perceived lack, of time can be hugely disruptive to practice - especially if taking an ‘all or nothing’ approach where you feel like practice is only ‘worth it’ if it’s a substantial/specific length.

Once again, goal setting for your practice session is a huge benefit here; make the goals achievable for the time you have available. Only have 5 minutes? Practice for 5 minutes! Set yourself an achievable minimum time goal that you can feel good about, rather than one you will regularly fall short of, knocking confidence and self-esteem.

There are also other types of practice you can incorporate if you are pushed for ‘deliberate practice’ time - things like focussed/critical listening or apps that help to train music theory or aural skills.

Lack of Space/Noise Issues

If you lack a space where you feel able to vocalise fully without disturbing others, or you are being disrupted by the noise of others, then practice will be hindered.

Not every practice type requires a full-voiced approach (see ‘illness’ section below), but you will require an environment where you can be loud at some points. There are some options, such as noise-cancelling headphones or ‘beltboxes’ which may help, though they are not inexpensive.

If possible, locate a space which allows for you to sing at your fullest - this could be a rehearsal space at a local university or public building, a friend’s house, the car, or the park (depending on your confidence levels!)

Illness

There are times when practice just isn’t possible, and rest and hydration are your only course of action. It’s important that you know your self and your body, and only do what is within your capacity at the given time.

That said, illness doesn’t always have to completely halt practice. There are a number of elements available to aid practice when you are unable to use your voice fully.

These include song work, listening/evaluating, research/learning, musicianship and mental practice. For more details, visit this blog post all about voiceless singing practice options.

For more singing practice tips you can follow me on social media @TessaSmithMusic, or explore thesingersguide.com where there are resources all about optimising your singing practice.