NYT Strands Today – Puzzle #564, 18 Sep 2025

Stuck on today’s Strands? Below you’ll find today’s theme, spoiler-light Spangram clues
(length, orientation, first/last letters), grid words that charge hints, first/last letters
for all theme words (length-obscured), definitions, and the full solution.

Jump to:

About Today’s Strands

Puzzle #564 (published September 18, 2025). One special word — the Spangram —
spans the grid and ties the theme together.

Today’s Theme

Theme: Practice makes perfect

General Hints

Think practice, theory, and performance.
Music class vibes — fundamentals plus a big weekly milestone.
The Spangram is a two-word phrase you might have after school.

Spangram Length

The Spangram has 12 letters and is two words.

Spangram Orientation

The Spangram runs vertically across the grid.

Spangram First & Last Letters

Begins with P and ends with S.
Pattern preview (length-obscured): P___S

Note: We always display first/last letters as X___Y with three underscores, regardless of true length.

Hint Unlocker Words (from the grid)

TOLES
PAID
TRAILS
SOLES
LEAPS
HEEL
TEEL
STEEL
HINTS
LONER
PIANO
PIANS
SAID
PALE
CHORE
TONER
CHIP
CHINS
LIAR
CHAP
HOLES
SONIC
RICE

First & Last Letters of All Words

WORD 1: T___E
WORD 2: S___E
WORD 3: C___D
WORD 4: T___E
WORD 5: R___L
WORD 6: T___Y

Spangram preview: P___S

Spangram

Click to reveal today’s Spangram

PIANO LESSONS

Spangram Definition

Click to reveal the definition of the Spangram

PIANO LESSONS — sessions of instruction for learning to play the piano, typically including scales, technique, theory, and repertoire.

Example: “Her piano lessons focused on technique drills before the recital piece.”

Sample Words

Click to reveal two words from today’s solution

TUNE
SCALE

Full Solution

Click to reveal the complete answers

Theme: Practice makes perfect

Spangram: PIANO LESSONS

All words:

TUNE
CHORD
SCALE
TECHNIQUE
RECITAL
THEORY
PIANO LESSONS (Spangram)

Definitions of All Words

Click to reveal definitions of today’s words

PIANO LESSONS — instructional sessions for learning piano technique, theory, and repertoire.
TUNE — a melody; to adjust pitch to proper intonation.
CHORD — three or more notes sounded together in harmony.
SCALE — an ordered sequence of notes used for practice and theory.
TECHNIQUE — the physical skill and method used to play an instrument.
RECITAL — a performance, often by a single musician or small group.
THEORY — the study of music’s structures, rules, and notation.