* Always start by warming up. You already know that warming up gets your muscles moving. You may not be aware that warming up also stimulates your brain. Specifically, it wakes up that part of your brain that you use to remember notes. It's the part that guides your fingers, giving you the ability to play notes without having to look at your hands. Nothing gets those neurons firing like running a few scales. The faster you can get your brain going, the more efficient your piano practice time will be.

* Remove distractions. Hopefully your piano is in a room with a door that closes. Shut the door. Turn off the television and stereo. Teach your household members to respect your practice time and not bother you.

* Sing along. If you're playing a song that has words, sing along. It might seem a bit awkward at first. If you can get past that feeling, you might find this improves your skills. Singing along stimulates the part of your brain that helps you multi-task. The more ways you can challenge your brain at once, the more punch you'll pack into your practice time.

* Change it up. If you find it difficult to stay focused on your music for a half hour practice, break it up. Practice for 15 minute increments instead. Do a bit in the morning and a bit in the evening. Try other ways of changing the way you practice. Practice at different times every day. Practice your songs in a different order each time. Change can be a great way to keep your practice time fresh and exciting.

* Find what works for you. Some people like to start with the easiest piece and work up to bigger challenges. Others prefer to get the hard stuff out of the way. It's important to do what works best for you. If you're simply trying to copy someone else's style, you may just be sabotaging yourself. Don't set yourself up to fail. Set up your practice time in a way that produces success.

* Reward yourself at the end of your practice time. Even if you love to play the piano, it's sometimes a chore to play what you've been assigned. Don't let drudgery sap your motivation. End your time of practice by playing something fun. It doesn't have to be something from your curriculum. Just play a piece that you enjoy. Or, spend a few minutes trying to make up your own tune. Knowing that you have that little reward to look forward to at the end will be motivating.

Playing the piano should be rewarding and personally fulfilling. This doesn't mean practicing will always be fun. However, when you try some of these piano practice tips, you may find your time to be more efficient. Ultimately, you increase your chances of successful learning when you make the most of your practice time.