Practice Tips for Busy Moms: Part 1.5
Let’s face it, if you are a mom and running a family, you are likely over-scheduled, have a running list of to-do items, and don’t have a lot of extra time for yourself. Even if you do get time, it is interrupted or filled with a list of chores that is difficult to ignore. So how can you get practice in? With some of these ideas, you can get in a little bit every day. It is consistency, not the amount of time, which will show the best results.
Put a practice pad, sticks, and your Stick Control book in the kitchen. When you’re waiting for the kettle to boil, for the toaster to ding, for the oven to get to temperature, waiting for junior to call you on the toilet, waiting on hold with the bank, whatever it is, spend just 5 minutes practicing Stick Control! Having the practice pad somewhere you see it every day will help you to put in some time on it.
You may be interrupted, yelled at for attention, compelled away from this by chores or small humans. This is where discipline kicks in. Just keep doing it.
Set limits with your kids. Use the timer on your stove as a visual for a little kid if it helps. 5 minutes of drumming, then 5 minutes of undivided attention for the little. You may need to start with undivided attention, then an activity ready to go to keep them busy.
Get your kid playing along with you with their own practice pad or get them started on an age appropriate activity. Play Doh, painting, sensory bins, colouring books, Lego, water in the kitchen sink with funnels and cups to scoop are all safe while semi-supervised while you drum on your pad, right there.
When you’re consistent about making it a dedicated practice time, both kid(s) and the dishes will learn to wait those 5-10 minutes for you to finish your routine. Yes, it means putting yourself first.
Ok, maybe put a bowl of cereal (unsupervised safe foods) in front of the kiddo to buy yourself time, but just DO IT. You will not regret the time you invest in yourself!
You are a scheduling master. Schedule yourself in!
Consider taking a little practice pad and stick bag with you to your car as you run the kid(s) to activities so you have something to do while you wait.
If you’re waiting while your kid is in lessons/sports/classes/school, practice!
If you are playing drum set, you will need to set aside about 25 minutes which is about how long the brain can effectively focus for.
Put away your phone, or put it on airplane mode for those precious few practice moments. NOTHING ends a good practice session faster than the interruption of a notification or focus being pulled into social media (scroll scroll scroll).
Set some goals or priorities.
Do you want to work on left hand strength? Bass drum foot speed? Learning a song? Learning a groove? Improving limb independence? Sight reading charts? Learning a snare drum piece? Memorizing rudiments? Whatever your “yes” is, follow one thing and plan for it!
Choose your goals for the week ahead. Make a schedule. Then practice with intention. Know that reaching goals is incremental. It can take a long time to reach a goal. Be realistic. Be kind. Start where you are.
Warm up for no more than 5 minutes. Get limber. Stretch. Slow to fast single strokes or slow to fast double strokes are enough. Then spend 10 minutes on improving a specific task or skill which may or may not be part of your main goal, and the last 10 minutes on your main goal. Still have time? Take a 5 minute break. Reset, and start the process again! Maybe move to a different warm up or use that extra 5 minutes for some problem you ran into.
Consistency will get you there. Perfection will not!
My Mantra is: Discipline Over Motivation
My second Mantra is: Practice with Intention
My third Mantra is: Be Kind to Yourself
Moms, you’ve got a tough job. Take time for you. Invest in yourself. It will give you space to be a better mom when you take care of yourself. Believe me, you’re worth it!
Celene Yohemas is a Percussionist, Drummer, and Educator from Calgary, AB Canada. She teaches clinics, private lessons, and group lessons. Zoom and in-person lessons available.