Piano Practice

Breakdowns
Toolkit TO PRODUCTIVE PRACTICE

LEARN MORE AT tonebase.co

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Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01

General Practice Sections & Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

Practice Breakdown #1 – 30 Mins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06

Practice Breakdown #2 – 60 Mins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07

Practice Breakdown #3 – 2 Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08

Practice Breakdown #4 – 3+ Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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Introduction

Hello! My name is Dominic Cheli, and I am a concert pianist and head of tonebase Piano.

For many of us, the largest barrier to improving at the piano is also quite simple: knowing how to practice

effectively and what to do during your precious time.

While educational resources like tonebase or even private instructors are wonderful for teaching you the

actual skills you need to learn in order to develop, they often fall short of explaining exactly what you should

be doing in your practice. To remedy this, I wanted to create a tool that would help you organize your time

and make progress in every session, regardless of how much time is available in a given day.

Where did this idea come from? Well, in one of our most popular live-streamed events (which you can still

watch here as a member of tonebase!), I discussed the process of reaching your practice goals through

specific systems and routines. After the live-stream ended, I wanted to take it a step further and put them

down in writing for passionate pianists like you to easily reference at any time.

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In this PDF, I first provide some general guidance and practice advice for pianists of any level. These cover

the 4 primary components of any good practice session

Warming U

Technique wor

Repertoire wor

Sightreading (optional)

Additionally, you will learn about what kind of tempo to practice in (and the exact, different benefits of slow/

medium/fast practice) as well as learning systems that professionals follow, such as the 7/5 or 20/10

systems.

Then, we’ll get into the actual Practice Breakdowns themselves!

Every time you sit down at the piano to start practicing, all you will need to do is ask yourself, “How much

time am I committing to piano today?” and you will be able to follow a template depending on these

following options

30 minutes (Yes! You can see huge benefits even with such short amount of time!

60 minute

2 hour

3+ hours

You can feel free to adjust these templates to taste, but they are all organized methods that are guaranteed

to keep you on track, while moving across the core aspects of piano playing to make sure your practice

sessions are efficient AND well-rounded!

Happy practicing and stay tuned for many more Practice Breakdowns from your favorite tonebase artists

coming your way!

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General Practice Sections & Advice for Any Level

1. Warming U
Consider making sure that you are “literally” warmed up. Drinking hot tea, taking a shower, turning on a
heater next to the piano, etc…It can all help
Stretch forearms, back, and nec
Slowly stretch fingers across the key
Recommended tonebase video: Full Body Warm-Up with Penelope Roskell

2. Techniqu
Always recommended to warm-up before technique work. Technical exercises, scales, and arpeggios are
demanding on the body, so do not underestimate them
Depending on your level, feel confident that you can utilize: 1-octave, 2-octave, and 4-octave scales AND
Arpeggios for different reasons
1-octave scales and arpeggios can be a great way to start learning your scales/arpeggios and cycling
through them quickl
Recommended tonebase video: One Octave Scales and Their Importanc
2-octave scales and arpeggios are most recommended. They are not as demanding as 4-octaves,
but still introduce the idea of “rotation in the thumb” (for slow/medium speeds), or “moving the hand”
(for fast speeds)
Recommended tonebase video: Building Speed and Accuracy in Scales With Grouping Practic
4-octave scales and arpeggios are the “highest level” and recommended for intermediate and
advanced players
Recommended tonebase video: Engaging Your Eyes and Brain for Four-Octave Scale
Recommended Exercise Books
Hanon 60 exercise
Exercises 1-38 are good for brief warmup
Exercises 39 is where the main benefits exist (scale/arpeggio fingerings) and mor
Recommended tonebase video: Hanon Exercises with Jeffrey Biege
Pischna Exercise
Great exercises for developing finger independence

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3. Repertoir
Consider choosing and practicing from one of these 3 general tempo options. In addition, pay attention
to the benefits found in each type of tempo practice
Slow (Best for Analytical, Visual Practice
Moderate (Best for Analytical, Visual, Aural, Muscle Memory Practice
Fast (Best for Muscle Memory, Visual, Aural Practice, and building confidence leading to
performance
For Slow Pieces
(Practicing at Slow tempo) Practice under tempo, even if it is extremely slow. It allows the brain to be
analytical and track fingerings, harmony, pedaling, dynamics, articulation (and more) in a controlled
way
(Practicing at Moderate tempo) This may be close to “in tempo” but should be a hair slower than your
desired tempo. This allows you to process information at a similar speed to performance but still
have the extra amount of time for the brain to be very actively thinking about what is happening at
the keyboar
(Practicing at Fast tempo) Yes, it is sometimes good to practice “slow pieces” at “fast tempos” -
playing them faster than you normally would. It actually forces your brain and fingers to be sharp and
fast thinking! It can also show the piece in a different light, illuminating structure, macro harmonies,
and phrase lengths
For Fast Pieces
(Practicing at Slow tempo) Practice under tempo, even if it is extremely slow. It allows the brain to be
analytical and track fingerings, harmony, pedaling, dynamics, articulation in a controlled way
(Practicing at Moderate tempo) For Fast pieces, it is GREAT and actually ideal to practice under
tempo, at a comfortable tempo. This way you can develop confidence that you DO have a tempo that
is comfortable and acceptable for performance
(Practicing at Fast tempo) This would be “in tempo” practice or even practicing fast pieces at a
higher tempo to build greater technical “bandwidth”. For example, if your goal tempo is 140bpm,
consider practicing at 150-160bpm to push yourself, and then have 140 feel even more comfortable.

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3. Repertoire (cont.
Consider using a “learning rule
7/5 rule: Practice a section for 7 minutes, take a 5 minute break, practice a DIFFERENT section for 7
minutes, 5 minute break, practice a DIFFERENT section for 7 minutes, etc…(you can revisit a previous
section after cycling through 2 other sections
20/10 rule: Practice 20 minutes, take a break for 10 minutes. This is ideal for those that may be
struggling with stamina, injury or looking for variety in their practice. After each break, try and start
from a different spot in your piece
Recommended tonebase LIVE workshop: Reaching your practice goals: Systems and Routine
Consider spending time doing the following
Record yourself during practice and listen back (either in excerpts or in “play throughs”
Play for someone (friend, family, etc…)

4. Sightreadin
Consider using C. Schafer's Sightreading exercises for all level
Consider sightreading repertoire, hands alone. Try playing repertoire 2 levels below your current level for
sightreading
Remember that after you have tried playing a piece more than 2 times…it is practicing, NOT sightreading
anymore
Recommended tonebase video: The Benefits of Sightreading With One Hand at a Time

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Practice Breakdown #1 – 30 Minutes

With this short amount of time to practice, you should be hyper-focused in moving through all the below
sections in this session! In can be very easy to spend too much time in one section (which you can still do if
you really want) but consider that your brain continues processing information/developing even after you
have moved on from something that you just worked on

Warmup and Technique (5 minutes

Warm up before you sit down at the piano
Choose a scale/arpeggio in a major key, and perhaps also its relative minor
Consider looking at a recommended Exercise from abov
Repertoire (20-25 minutes
With only 30 minutes of practice (overall) we need to get to your repertoire quickly
Tips
Ask yourself which part you are most nervous or concerned about (That is a good place to start!
Don't always start at the beginning of the piec
Consider sectionalized practice: spending 5 minutes each on 4 different sections (or any other
division of time by section…this allows you to cover more ground and it is proven that your brain
continues processing information/developing even after you have moved on from a passage). This
is efficient practice
Sightreading (optional 5 minutes
When only having 30 minutes to practice, it is typically recommended that you focus primarily on
technique and repertoire
If you wish, you can spend 5 minutes on sightreadin
Consider recommended advice above in the “General” section

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Practice Breakdown #2 – 60 Minutes

This is the most typical practice routine for pianists. It is important to get good at maximizing this particular
practice breakdown for great benefits

Warmup and Technique (10 minutes

Warm up before you sit down at the piano
Choose a scale/arpeggio in a major key, and perhaps also its relative minor
Consider looking at a recommended Exercise from abov
Repertoire (45 minutes
Tips
Ask yourself which part you are most nervous or concerned about (That is a good place to start!
Don't always start at the beginning of the piec
Consider sectionalized practice: spending 10 minutes each on 4 different sections (or any other
division of time by section…this allows you to cover more ground and it is proven that your brain
continues processing information/developing even after you have moved on from a passage). This
is efficient practice
If you have 2 pieces to work on, consider focusing on 1 today, 1 tomorrow, or bouncing between
both pieces (around 20 minutes each
IMPORTANT: after practicing for 30 minutes take a 5 minute break! It will keep your brain fresh and
allow you to be hyper focused when you jump back into practicing
Sightreading (optional 5 minutes
If you wish, you can spend 5 minutes on sightreadin
Consider recommended advice above in the “General” section

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Practice Breakdown #3 – 2 Hours
This practice time is for intermediate to advanced students. The longer the practice sessions get, the easier
it is to “waste time” and play “in circles”. In other words, getting stuck playing the same passage over and
over with diminishing results, vs. working on many aspects of our technique and repertoire

Warmup and Technique (20 minutes

Warm up before you sit down at the piano
Choose several scales/arpeggios in a major keys, and the relative minors
Work on different exercises as recommended abov
Repertoire (90 minutes
It is assumed that most likely you are playing more than one piece! The breakdown of these 90
minutes could be
all 90 minutes spent learning one new piec
45 minutes spent on each piece (2 total
For More than 2 pieces (or pieces of varying levels) break down the 90 minutes into prioritizing
one piece (maybe the most difficult or weakest piece for you) for 45 minutes, and use the
remaining 45 minutes on the other pieces
Tips
Ask yourself which part you are most nervous or concerned about (That is a good place to start!
Don't always start at the beginning of the piec
Consider sectionalized practice: spending 10-20 minutes each on several different sections (or
any other division of time by section…this allows you to cover more ground and it is proven that
your brain continues processing information/developing even after you have moved on from a
passage). This is efficient practice
Remember you don't have to play each piece, every day. You can focus on multiple pieces across
multiple days
IMPORTANT: after practicing for 30 minutes take a 5 minute break! It will keep your brain fresh and
allow you to be hyper focused when you jump back into practicing
Consider using one of the following learning rules, explained in the “General” sectio
7/5 rule, 20/10 rul
Sightreading (optional 10 minutes
If you wish, you can spend 10 minutes on sightreadin
Consider recommended advice above in the “General” section

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Practice Breakdown #4 – 3+ Hours

For advanced or very serious pianists, this is a substantial amount of time! Remember Chopin's quote
“One day Chopin heard me say that I practiced six hours a day. He became quite angry, and forbade me
to practice more than three hours.
According to other students, Chopin encouraged short practice sessions: “He always advised the pupil
not to work for too long at a stretch and to intermit between hours of work by reading a good book, by
looking at masterpieces of art, or by taking an invigorating walk”

Warmup and Technique (20-30 minutes

Warm up before you sit down at the piano
Choose several scales/arpeggios in a major keys, and the relative minors
Work on different exercises as recommended abov
Repertoire (2.5+ hours
It is assumed that most likely you are playing more than one piece! The breakdown of this time could
be the followin
all the time spent learning one new piec
45 minutes spent on each piec
Any other time breakdow
Tips
Ask yourself which part you are most nervous or concerned about (That is a good place to start!
Don't always start at the beginning of the piec
Consider sectionalized practice: spending 10-20 minutes each on several different sections (or
any other division of time by section…this allows you to cover more ground and it is proven that
your brain continues processing information/developing even after you have moved on from a
passage). This is efficient practice
Remember you don't have to play each piece, every day. You can focus on multiple pieces across
multiple days
IMPORTANT: after practicing for 30 minutes take a 5 minute break! It will keep your brain fresh and
allow you to be hyper focused when you jump back into practicing
Consider using one of the following learning rules, explained in the “General” sectio
7/5 rule, 20/10 rul
Remember: Work (sometimes) takes as long as you plan for it, try and practice as efficiently as
possible!

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Practice Breakdown #4 – 3+ Hours (cont.)

Sightreading (optional 10-20 minutes

If you wish, you can spend 10-20 minutes on sightreadin

Consider recommended advice above in the “General” section

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Conclusion

We hope you get a lot of value out of this resource and find it useful for getting the most out of every

practice session!

We at tonebase are committed to helping you achieve your musical goals and we are so excited about our

recent launch: tonebase Practice Plans. Drawing from our library of 100s of videos, across repertoire,

technique, and musicality lessons, we curate a plan that is specially designed for you, with a focus on

improving BOTH your strengths and weaknesses.

Start your free trial of tonebase today to get your personalized Practice Plan and unlock access to 100s of

courses from the world’s best pianists!

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