The difference between playing and practicing

Welcome back to Raising Musos, the podcast/blog that helps parents support their child’s musical journey! I’m Eliza Bourgault, and today we’re diving into an important topic—understanding the difference between playing an instrument and actually practising.

If your child sits at their instrument for 20 or 30 minutes a day but their progress seems slow, they might not actually be practising—they might just be playing. And while playing is fun and important, it’s not the same thing as effective practice. Let’s break down the difference and explore ways to make practice more productive!

What Does It Mean to Play?

First, let’s define playing. Playing an instrument means sitting down and running through pieces that your child already knows. They might be:

• Playing their favorite songs from start to finish

• Performing for fun and just enjoying the music

• Experimenting, improvising, or “noodling” around

Now, this is not a bad thing! Playing for enjoyment is one of the best parts of learning music. It builds confidence, allows musicians to express themselves, and keeps them motivated. However, if a student only plays without actually practising, they’re not going to see much improvement.

What Does It Mean to Practise?

Practising, on the other hand, is intentional, focused, and goal-oriented. Instead of just running through songs, it involves:

• Breaking things down – working on small sections instead of playing everything from the beginning

• Repeating tricky spots – focusing on difficult passages, not just the parts that already sound good

• Slowing down – practising at a comfortable tempo to get things right

• Using specific techniques – like hands-separately for pianists or slow bowing for violinists

• Listening actively – noticing mistakes, making adjustments, and problem-solving

A student who is truly practising will be engaged, trying to fix things and improve, instead of just playing through a piece over and over.

Why Does This Distinction Matter?

Think of it this way—if you’re learning to cook, you don’t improve just by making the same dish over and over. You get better by learning new techniques, correcting mistakes, and improving specific skills.

The same goes for music! Practising helps build:

• Technical skills – like hand coordination, finger strength, and accuracy

• Musicality – developing phrasing, expression, and dynamics

• Efficiency – making better use of practice time so progress happens faster

Students who focus on real practice instead of just playing will see improvements in their skills much more quickly.

How to Help Your Child Practise Effectively

So, as a parent, how can you help your child shift from playing to practising? Here are some strategies:

• Ask them, "What are you working on today?"
  Encourage them to have a specific focus instead of just running through songs.

• Suggest working on small sections
  Instead of playing a piece from the start every time, encourage them to pick a tricky section and repeat it slowly.

• Use the "three times perfect" rule
  Ask your child to play a challenging section correctly three times in a row before moving on. This helps build consistency.

• Encourage mindful repetition
  Repetition is great, but only if it’s done with awareness. If they’re making the same mistake over and over, they need to slow down and fix it first.

• Celebrate progress, not just completion
  Instead of saying, "Did you practise for 30 minutes?" ask, "What did you improve today?" Focus on quality over quantity.

Balancing Playing and Practicing

Now, let’s be clear—playing is important too! We don’t want kids to feel like every time they sit at their instrument, it has to be a super serious practice session. The best approach is a balance:

• Start with practice – focused, intentional work on technique and new skills

• End with playing – enjoying music, playing favorite songs, or improvising for fun

This way, practice stays productive, but students still get to enjoy making music.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the difference between playing and practising can make a huge impact on a child’s progress. If your child is struggling to improve despite spending time at their instrument, it might be time to take a closer look at how they’re using that time.

I’d love to hear from you—what strategies have helped your child make their practice time more effective?

📩 Send us a message on Instagram at @musicmakersacademy or email us at hello@musicmakersacademy.com.au.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more insights on music education!