Practice Smarter, Not Longer: How to Make the Most of 20 Minutes a Day

When it comes to learning an instrument, how you practice can matter more than the amount you practice. At Ehlert Music, we help students grow their skills through in-home piano and trumpet lessons and have seen terrific results with just 20 minutes of daily practice.

Why Short, Focused Practice Works

In-home lessons give students the advantage of learning in a familiar, comfortable environment. Without the stress of commuting, it’s easier to fit short practice sessions into the day. Frequent, concentrated practice builds stronger muscle memory and keeps motivation high, especially for younger learners.

The 20-Minute Practice Plan

Here’s how you can structure a high-impact, 20-minute session for yourself or your child:

1. Warm-Up (3 minutes): Scales, simple exercises, or long tones (for trumpet players).  

   1. Focus on posture and breathing.

2. Review (5 minutes): Play through last week’s assignments.  

   1. Identify tricky spots and note them for extra attention.

3. Focused Work (10 minutes): Slow down problem sections.

   1. Use repetition—five perfect plays in a row is a good starting goal

4. Fun Finish (2 minutes): End with a favorite piece or improvisation.  

   1. Keeps practice enjoyable and builds confidence.

Benefits of Consistent, Short Practice

• Less Overwhelm – Easy to stick with a 20-minute habit.

• Better Retention – Daily exposure leads to long term memory.

• More Progress – Focused practice improves technique faster.

• Makes Practicing Enjoyable – Faster results lead to more enjoyment, which in turn leads to more practice!

How Ehlert Music Supports Your Student’s Practice

Whether it’s piano, trumpet, music theory, or jazz improvisation, our in-home lessons in the Twin Cities are built around your schedule. Doug Ehlert, a professional musician and educator with over 20 years of teaching and performance experience, tailors each lesson to the student’s goals. We also provide clear, step-by-step practice plans after every session and post them to the students own Google Classroom, so everyone knows exactly what to do between lessons.

Back to School Special: Enroll by September 15, 2025, and save $35 with free registration.

Lesson slots are first come, first served.

(262) 758-1135 (Doug's Cell). doug@ehlertmusic.com