Practice sessions: which do you prefer?

[Leonid Turetsky]

Do you like to practice few days a week for many hours or many days for fewer hours?

I recently realized that I get more value from practicing almost everyday, about 6-7 days per week with fewer hours per day, 1-2 hours per day.

This is instead of practicing 3-4 days per week for more hours, 2-3 hours for example.

This is not including lessons - just pure practice. And its important to note the 1-2 hour is intense dancing and focus...without much distraction. If I go for more than 2 hours I feel my body cannot physically handle it. And I feel I retain more from not having big breaks between practices.


What about you?

 

[fascination]

since my lessons are mon and tues and are often coupled with practice meaning that I dance 4 hours straignht on those two days, I generally prefer one hour sessions in my home a couple times a day on most of the other days of the week....depending upon how busy I am and how sore I am

 

[CANI]

I did the 1-2 hours per day the 6, usually 7 days per week, focused, no distractions. At the time 2 hours was my max before my knee would be too painful. I also was practicing alone, and, except for usually one day a week, practicing in a space completely by myself.

I also think mentally, I lose my focus beyond two hours. Perhaps it would be different if I was practicing with someone. If I chose to practice more than 2 hours, I would break it up, 1-2 hours in the morning and then 1-2 hours in the evening. I can't see myself practicing 3-4 hours at once on my own.

Also, for me, as you mentioned, every day is important for my memory/comfort.

 

[nucat78]

I really have to put a floor in my basement due to my current schedule.

I prefer multiple short sessions when I have the time to practice. But the sessions need to be long enough to *do* something, not just putz through a couple figures.

 

[White Chacha]

I'm a fan of short, frequent practice. When I've managed that, I found that I could remember feelings from one practice to the next and make quicker progress towards internalizing those feelings. But I take what I can get.

-wc

 

[DanceJoy]

I prefer many days with 1-2 hours a day... My brain just could not handle more than 2 hours of focused practice. I think I would be less productive in a 4 hour practice than in a 2 hour practice!

 

[Leonid Turetsky]

Great to see so many people feel the same way. Yeah I agree that retention is much better with many days per week.

 

[latingal]

multiple days with 2 to 3 hours of focused, intense practice. if my feet can take it multiple sessions within the day of 2 hours or so each.

 

[GGinrhinestones]

My practices usually average out at about 1-1 1/2 hours per session, typically once a day, though on days I'm not working I've managed up to four hours broken into a couple of different sessions. Since I'm a long way from the studio, I only get lessons once a week and practicing is pretty much the only way I get to dance.

 

[tanya_the_dancer]

My practice schedule is in a state of flux now, but ideally I prefer at least 1 hour on business days and 2 hours on weekends (if I am not driving for a lesson).

 

[Arrion]

I too find that my focus slips a lot after two hours, so I prefer 1-2 hour sessions as many days a week as possible. If I need to do more I will do a couple of sessions in a day with a break of several hours between them.