How long should you practice? That's a good question, but let's shift a little. I find that a two-goal approach to rehearsal is more effective than solely watching the clock or only playing what you're already good at (which is super fun and important, but it's a different thing than rehearsing). To have a solid rehearsal, make and meet two goals.

First, set a minimum time goal. For the short-attention-span set, this can be rather short, but it's a personal decision. You'll figure out what works for you as you mature as a musician. The second goal (the main goal) is an accomplishment goal. What art-smashing dragons are creeping around that need to be vanquished? Choose a reachable goal at each rehearsal, and then work toward it. Perhaps you'd like to finally nail those four difficult measures or some tricky transition. Maybe your fingering is wacky or the strum pattern is hard to maintain while singing. How are your dynamics? Your style? Are you maintaining a steady tempo? Of all the things you'd like to improve, pick one or two and get going.

Reach both goals before throwing in the towel for the session. If you meet the time goal but not the accomplishment goal, keep going. If you have slain your dragon but it only took a few minutes, pick a new beast and keep slaying until you also reach that time goal. Once you've met these two goals, you have succeeded for the day (and are basically winning at life).

Success feels fantastic, doesn't it? It sounds pretty good, too.

St. George and The Dragon, by Ken Riley — *St. George and The Dragon*, by Ken Riley