10 Things You Can Do When You Can’t Practice Your Instrument

Has it ever happened to you that you could not practice your instrument for a while? What are some things musicians can do during periods of time when, for whatever reason, they cannot physically practice on their instrument?

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and I am off of work, I have no rehearsals, no homework, and lots of free time on my hands. This was going to be a glorious week of practicing my guitar for many many hours. However, my plans went to shambles when I cut my thumb on Saturday, the first day of my vacation.

The cut doesn’t look like a big deal when you look at it, but it is very deep and it hurts to the touch. I am a classical guitarist, and the way I use my left hand on the instrument puts a bit of pressure on the first joint of my thumb, towards the top of it. That is precisely where the cut is, so it goes without saying that I have not been able to practice my instrument this week.

To use my time productively and to help others do the same when going through a similar situation, I came up with a list of things musicians can do during periods when they cannot physically practice or their instrument.

Take a look at my list, try some of the things for yourself, let me know how they worked for you, and make sure to add your own suggestions to item number 10, in the comment section below. Also, make sure to share this post with a musician that you think can benefit from it.

Thank you very much for reading and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

1. Instrument Maintenance

   • change strings

   • make reeds

   • change pads

   • schedule tech work, repairs

2. Organize

   • your music (print, digital)

   • your library

   • your studio

   • your instrument case

   • your maintenance kit

3. Silent Practice

• practice without your instrument

• read scores: old, new

• memorize scores

• posture

4. Listen

• recordings: audio, video

• not just your own instrument

• Beethoven Piano Sonatas

• Bach Cantatas

• Mozart Operas

• not just your own genre

5. Read

• new music scores

• music books/articles/blogs

• music history, theory

• musician biographies

6. Music Contacts

• students, suppliers, venues

          • update

          • expand

• personal media kit

• business cards

          • portfolio (physical < digital)

          • social media presence

          • website, blog

7. Calendar

• review upcoming events

• schedule new events

8. Concentration/Focus Exercises

• visualization exercises

• mental play phrase by phrase

• meditation

9. Rest

• it’s OK to take a break

• physical, mental rest

• you’ll feel refreshed upon returning

10. What Would YOU Add To This List?