Hi, I have a weird, complicated question.
I realize that a person's rate of improvement playing their instrument over time varies extremely from person to person and this is a rather vague question, but I thought I would ask it anyway. I'm 15, and guess I am an "intermediate" level jazz pianist. My instructor has told me that I learn very fast compared to most of his students and that considering how fast I have learned he considers me "gifted", and that I should pursue music later in life and all of that. Mainly I practice about an hour every day.

However, a strange family situation means I am going to live with my uncle for a year in what I can only describe as the middle of NOWHERE. There is literally going to be NOTHING to do except practice, because where he lives prevents the use of most creature comforts, even the internet. Because of this, My instructor recommends I plan on making the best of a strange situation and starting a practice regimen of 4-5 hours a day. I plan on 6 if I can handle it. I guess the best way I can think of this is piano boot camp.

I guess what I am asking is, if anyone here has any experience practicing 5-6 hours a day all week long, how dramatic that sort of practice will effect someones skill. I know your probably thinking "well duh if you practice that much you'll get really good" but I just wanted to make sure that much practice is worth it or whether it would just wear me out.

Sorry for the convoluted question.

Hey man, I play drums, and my bandmates and I used to get together around noonish every day over summer vacations and stuff and just jam until it was dark, or later, ten to tweleve hours a day, everyday. We wrote a whole album of material in about a month, but I would get tired about once a week, and we would take a two to three day break.

For piano however, you need to be careful that you arent hurting your wrists practicing that much. I would say practice as long as you want as often as you want, but if you even get a bit tired or feel pain in the wrists, give it a break for a while. If your only 15, you can afford to take a break once and a while.

SIX HOURS A DAY?

Forgive me, but that's insane.
My friend had to do that one day for clarinet (if not longer) and oh my gosh - although she's really talented, it tired her out.

hey i play the flute and i have experienced practicing longer than 6 hours. of coarse it's not daily, but i have practiced 8 hours. i was in an honors band and we only had a very few days with eachother. we only practiced 3 days together and on the second day was the 8 hour practice with very few 30 min break and 1 lunch break. it was worth it. tons of people have come and said "Wow Courtney! You sounded like a professional band!" or "Wow you have really moved me" i just had to laugh because i'm only in 8th grade

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also my hands were almost stiff because of practicing that much but suprisingly besides that i wasn't worn out. i was actually pumped to do a concert that day and i even practiced even more when i got back from the band room.

I mean, the honor bands I can understand; I've been to camps with five hours a day, etc. But I mean just straight practicing without a camp (for my friend who plays clarinet).

haha, technicly i was not at a camp i was at a different band room at another school in my county. also we only knew eachother for 3 days (except for the kids at my school) and we haven't seen eachother since. i just finished practicing flute and keyboard for 3 hrs

Man I don't think I've practiced at home since September or so. This year in honor band is the only time I remember starting a piece (3 actually) and having a concert in the same day. Marching band is probably the heaviest practicing I've personally done.

haha, technicly i was not at a camp i was at a different band room at another school in my county. also we only knew eachother for 3 days (except for the kids at my school) and we haven't seen eachother since. i just finished practicing flute and keyboard for 3 hrs

That's like all-district band right? Or something similar? I know what you're talking about and I understand that. I'm going to try to make it into an honor band next year that's so super elite...

Wow...as much as I love the flute, I can't practice that long during the weekends (and at home during the week)...as much as I love the flute, I usually get distracted.

Okay, first off, my advice to you is to NOT practice 4-6 hours your first day. You have to gradually work up to it or you WILL hurt yourself! Piano is different from other instruments because it makes you more vulnerable to tendinitis than other instruments. If you are used to practicing an hour a day, increase it by a half hour every week until you are up to your goal. I have just finished up my undergraduate work in music, majoring in violin performance and minoring in piano. I only practiced piano an hour a day because I needed to practice my violin at LEAST three hours a day. I could easily spend an hour on scales, an hour on etudes, and then however much time I want to spend on everything else. Because you are a jazz pianist, I would recommend working on the different modes/scales as your warmup (slowly at first, then increase speed). Playing an instrument is a bit like playing a sport. You do have to do a proper warmup! Most people don't believe you do, but after 3 years in university with people who are actually serious about music, I have realized that you have to be careful with how you practice! I have had many friends have to quit because they messed up their tendons and muscles by not practicing correctly, and it would be a shame for you to hurt yourself right away and then have all that time to NOT practice!

Hope that was of some help to you!

I just want to add something.

Friday, I have an 8-3 rehearsal, but there are going to be brakes every hour, etc. so we dont get tired...

6 hours a day, i think, at once would be more hard than six hours spread out in a day.

Yes, I agree with that! I am in a quartet, and a cello/violin duo. I will practice two hours with my quartet and then take a fifteen minute break before practicing with my cellist for two hours. I then have a half hour break and then have a two hour orchestra rehearsal. I really don't feel tired at all with the breaks. It is amazing what a few minutes of rest and focusing on something else will do for you!

Wow!

So...I survived my all-school day rehearsal! Barely.

We had brakes about every hour, including an hour long lunch break, etc. with our commissioned composer and two profesionals.