1. Analyse

This is easy because the hard bit you keep getting wrong is the bit you need to practice. NOT STARTING THE WHOLE PIECE AGAIN. If you are washing the kitchen floor & you miss a bit, you don't wash the whole kitchen floor again, just the bit you missed.

2. Isolate

Take this hard bit out of the piece. Cut it right down into small bits, beat at a time if necessary.

3. Loop

Don't just play the isolated bars or beats once. Keep tempo & loop them around so you really get the feel of the music. Repeating or looping is constantly attacking the very bit you find hard without wasting time starting the piece again.

4. Riff

This little lick has been pushing you around so now you push back. Whilst looping, start to be inventive with the loop. Improvise with it. Begin enjoying your practicing by adding creativity & possibly discovering new melodic, rhythmical & technique based ideas from what was just a hard bit you couldn't play. If you come up with some really good ideas, DONT FORGET THEM! Use the record function on your mobile phone to record them conveniently for recovery when needed later.

5. Consolidate

Put everything back into place as it was. BE CAREFUL! Don't let any of those new riff ideas creep into the piece unless creativity is a part of the exam boards remit. Even then, it is best to try to stick to the part.

The secret 6th rule of practice. REST.

Its as important as work for muscles. Overworking the hands creates tension & actually slows the hands down. Young players should stick to a 10 to 15mins on, 5mins off, for practice whilst older students should really go no more that 30mins without a 10 min break. Pro musicians are only expected to go 45 mins to an hour before at least a 15 min break unless not constantly playing e.g. orchestral.