1) Practice a little every day; this is more beneficial than one or two long sessions per week. Schedule the same time every day to practice. Then it becomes part of your regular routine.

2) Learn each piece a phrase at a time. Play each phrase slowly until you know it well, then go the next phrase.

Starting at the beginning and playing to the end of a piece each time you practice is not effective use of practice time. This method merely practices the mistakes!

3) Don't practice mistakes or you will become very good at playing them! Stop and work on a mistake or trouble spot immediately so it will be correct next time through. When you make a mistake stay there to correct it; DO NOT go back to the beginning of the piece.

4) Practice the hard parts too; not just the parts you like.

5) Try starting in the middle of the piece and working to the end.

6) Record yourself and listen carefully to it being played back while reading the music. Is it soft or loud where it is supposed to be? Is the timing correct? Are accents, staccato notes and slurs played correctly? Count the beats while you listen.

7) Reward yourself at the end of your practice by playing something you enjoy that you know well.