“Musical training in childhood not only enhances many cognitive functions but is accompanied by neuroplastic changes in brain structure and function.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3957486/#abstract1
Is practice important? And, if so, why?
The answer comes in the simple form of a question. Do you wish to improve? Take swimming or tennis as an example. Would you compete in meets or matches without daily practice? Of course not. That would not only be absurd, but it would be terrible for the team and for you. Daily practice is vital for building strong habits. Besides, the piano is a beautiful instrument and practice is a really nice way to unwind and release some stress.
Practice time is for you. It’s your opportunity to reinforce that which you learned during lessons. If that reinforcement doesn’t take place, your progress only happens once per week for a very limited amount of time (during lessons). Unfortunately, if this is the case, you will progress very slowly. You will still learn, and you will still progress, but it will be laborious and you are likely to build up frustration. If you are dedicated to your practice, you will improve rapidly. This is not a competitive sport – It’s music. You compete with yourself to improve, but that’s about it. Mistakes are good, because we learn from them. We look for them, so that we can correct them. This is a great confidence building opportunity for students who require some encouragement in this area and it’s really fun for students who have already found their confidence.
Above all, “The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.” – Ray Charles