NYT Strands Sept 18 Hints & Answers #564 (Music Theme)

Introduction

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle for September 18, 2025 (#564) strikes a musical chord ???? with its theme “Practice makes perfect.” If you’ve ever taken piano lessons, studied scales, or sat nervously at a recital, this one might feel familiar.

But don’t worry if music theory isn’t your forte — I’ll guide you step by step with gentle hints, the spangram reveal, and the full list of answers. Just a heads-up: spoilers ahead if you scroll too far. Use the hints section if you want a nudge without seeing the full solution right away.

Today’s NYT Strands Theme and Musical Context

The puzzle’s theme “Practice makes perfect” ties directly to music education. Players are tasked with finding words related to learning and performing music. This is a great example of how Strands often blends everyday activities with clever wordplay.

Musicians had an advantage today — terms like SCALE or CHORD pop out immediately if you’ve been in a music classroom.

Gentle Hints for Strands #564

Need a little help but don’t want the full reveal? Try these tiered hints:

• Yellow-level hint (easy): Think about what a piano teacher drills in every lesson.
• Green-level hint (medium): Terms you’d find in a music theory workbook.
• Blue-level hint (hard): Something you’d perform after weeks of practice.
• Purple-level hint (spangram): What you sign up for when you want to learn piano.

How to Find Today’s Spangram: PIANO LESSONS

The spangram runs through the center of the grid, connecting both halves with the phrase PIANO LESSONS. Look for the P on the top row and trace downwards diagonally to complete it.

Complete Word List and Musical Meanings

Here are today’s NYT Strands answers for September 18 (#564):

• TUNE – a simple melody.
• CHORD – multiple notes played together.
• SCALE – a sequence of ascending/descending notes.
• THEORY – the study of music rules and notation.
• TECHNIQUE – physical skills required to play an instrument.
• RECITAL – a student’s live performance.
• Spangram: PIANO LESSONS ????

Tips for Music-Themed Puzzle Success

• Recall common practice-room words like SCALE and CHORD.
• Think of events tied to learning, like RECITAL.
• For spangrams, look for multi-word phrases (e.g., PIANO LESSONS) spanning the grid.

Musical knowledge definitely helps, but even non-musicians can solve it by focusing on educational and performance-related terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the theme for NYT Strands September 18, 2025?
The theme is “Practice makes perfect” featuring music lesson and piano learning terminology.

Q2: What is today’s Strands spangram?
The spangram is PIANO LESSONS, running diagonally through the grid.

Q3: What are all the answers for Strands #564?
The answers are: TUNE, CHORD, SCALE, THEORY, TECHNIQUE, RECITAL, and the spangram PIANO LESSONS.

Q4: Why is this puzzle easier for musicians?
Musicians recognize terms like SCALE, CHORD, THEORY, and TECHNIQUE, making connections quicker.

Q5: How do you find hint words in Strands?
You unlock hints by finding valid words of 4+ letters. Examples from today’s grid include PALE, LEAP, HEEL, CODE, CORD, and HOLD.

Conclusion

The NYT Strands puzzle #564 (September 18, 2025) was a musical celebration of learning and performing. With the spangram PIANO LESSONS and supporting words like CHORD, SCALE, and RECITAL, this one was both fun and educational.

If you’re a musician, you likely breezed through. If not, hopefully this guide helped you connect the dots. Don’t miss tomorrow’s puzzle — it could bring a whole new theme twist!