First you can apply for EAD. You can apply for EAD using the reason that you want to practice.You must assure immigration office that you do not want to earn money to support J-1, only for practice and learning. It takes about 3 months to get EAD. After you get it, you can apply for SSN. You will get your SSN in two weeks. Good luck.
My wife has got her SSN after 3 months. I am also in Texas.