Are You Practising at the Wrong Time of Day?
- Simon Sammut
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
What Chronobiology Can Teach Musicians About Timing, Creativity, and Peak Performance
Ever felt out of sync during practice? Like your brain’s foggy, your fingers clumsy, or your creativity just… flat?
You’re not alone—and you’re probably not broken. You might just be playing at the wrong time of day.
This week, I’ve been exploring chronobiology—the science of our internal biological clocks—and how it affects us as musicians. Turns out, your body has a rhythm just like your music does. And ignoring it might be costing you time, progress, and even inspiration.
Your Body Is Keeping Time Too
Chronobiology studies how our natural rhythms—like the 24-hour circadian cycle—influence alertness, coordination, focus, and mood. Musicians rely on all of these. So the question isn’t just what you practise—it’s when.
Several fascinating studies confirm what many of us have felt intuitively:
1. Musicians Tend Toward Eveningness
Research shows that many musicians, especially composers, fall into the “evening chronotype”—our internal clocks are wired to be more active and focused later in the day. A 2021 study found evening types score higher in divergent thinking tasks (a key to creativity) and are more likely to engage in late-day practice or composing.
So if you feel most “on” after 7 PM—there’s a reason.
2. Performance Quality Peaks in the Afternoon
In a study of professional violinists, players performed best between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, showing better tone control and tempo stability. Morning sessions were more prone to clumsy articulation and inconsistent dynamics.
That lines up with general findings in chronobiology: motor skills and cognitive sharpness peak in early-to-mid afternoon.
3. Aligning Practice with Your Chronotype Works
Another study from McGill University found that musicians naturally time their practice based on chronotype—not just habit or schedule. And this self-selection improved consistency and performance.
So yes—there is such a thing as practising at the “wrong” time… if it doesn’t match your internal rhythm.
What Can You Do?
Track your peak hours: When are you most alert, creative, or relaxed? Keep a mini log for a week.
Schedule your hardest work accordingly: Save your toughest passages or most creative work for your “golden hours.”
Respect your REM: Late-night gigs or screen time can suppress REM sleep—which is critical for consolidating motor skills and emotional nuance. It’s when your brain locks in what you’ve practised.
Final Thought
Musicians are trained to listen. To timing, pitch, harmony, and the world around us. Maybe it’s time we listen inward too. Your body is playing its own rhythm. Maybe it’s trying to tell you when it wants to play.
If this resonated with you, leave a comment or share it with someone whose practice routine could use a biological boost.
Till next time—stay in tune,Simon
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