How did practice with focus start?

Meet our founder:

Isobel Daws

Hi, I’m Isobel, a professional trombone player from the UK and the person behind practice with focus.

I started playing at a very young age, so I can’t remember a time when practicing wasn’t part of my life. Over the years, practicing often became something I saw as a chore. I’ve struggled with motivation, found practising boring at times, and gone through periods where I had little to no motivation to pick up my instrument.

The idea for the practice with focus planner came from conversations with my students about how they actually practise. I was surprised by some of the responses. Many didn’t have a clear structure to their practice sessions and weren’t sure what methods worked best for them. It made me realise just how easy it is to spend time practising without necessarily making the most of it.

I had noticed something similar when I was a student. I would see friends spending hours in the practice room, but a lot of that time could easily disappear to procrastination, scrolling on their phones or simply not knowing what to work on next. At the same time, I had always found that structuring my own practice helped me stay focused and get much more out of my sessions. It eventually occurred to me that having a clear practice structure wasn’t something everyone had been taught or even considered.

My aim with practice with focus is to create a supportive space where musicians can find useful advice, tools and resources to help them navigate the challenges of practising, performing and building a career in music. Whether you’re struggling with motivation, looking for ways to make your practice more effective, or simply want to feel more confident and focused, practice with focus is here to help.

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