This blog post by Juilliard performance psychologist Dr. Noa Kageyama has been making the rounds amongst my musicians friends on Facebook, and I finally took a look at it. It crystallizes how a lot of those of us who have busy orchestral careers have learned, out of desperation and necessity, to practice. Kageyama hones in on the concept of ‘deliberate practicing’. It is an exhausting way to practice, and as such shouldn’t be done more a longer period than one can sustain the appropriate level of concentration and awareness. Kageyama suggests anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour for a practice session, conducted, if possible, at times of the day when one is most alert and responsive. It’s a must-read for any musician at any stage in their development and career.