Practice Planning

Mission Planning

A mission should tell you what kind of musician you are trying to become in this specific piece, skill, or performance situation.

What makes a good mission?

A good mission is specific enough to guide practice but broad enough to survive more than one session. It should describe a musical outcome, not just an activity.

Weak mission vs useful mission

Weak: "Practise bass."

Useful: "Play the chorus transition cleanly at rehearsal tempo."

Weak: "Get better at drums."

Useful: "Keep the kick pattern stable while adding fills."

Try this today

  1. Name the piece, skill, or performance situation.
  2. Describe what should sound or feel different.
  3. Keep it narrow enough to practise this week.

Reflection question

Does your current mission describe an outcome you can hear, feel, or test?