How to Improve at Anything

Advise from my children's music teachers

Change the word “music” to whatever you want to improve in.

Comments

Ø “If everyone knew how to work, everyone would be a genius!”

Ø “While practicing does involve a good deal of repetition, there is far more to it…”

Ø “Practicing is, to a large degree, a very personal activity and changes as playing proficiency improves.”

Ø “To be most beneficial, practicing should be both an enjoyable and productive experience.”

Ø “Many students measure their progress by how much repertoire they play, rather than by the quality of their playing”

How to Practice

Ø Set Goals – “If you are not sure, set your goals high”

· Long range (ultimate)

· Weekly and daily

· Each task

Ø Increase Productivity

· “While practicing, observe what you are doing. Don’t criticize! Comments such as ‘This is terrible.’, ‘I’m making too many mistakes’, etc., are irrelevant, distracting, and counterproductive. They also take much of the enjoyment out of practicing. On the other hand, non-judgmental observations based on body awareness such as: ‘My left hand is tense in this passage’, or ‘My right hand seems confused in this measure’, are statement about what needs to be done and what to focus on during the practice session.”

· “This approach demands awareness, concentration and, more importantly, FOCUSING your mind on the problem”

· Organize your materials, your practice time will be more efficient

· Work on the hardest things first

· Treat past mistakes as “learning opportunities”

· Ask questions

· Listen and learn from others

· Help others, you learn from teaching

· Keep a portfolio of your work and notice how you have progressed

· Broaden your horizons - learn about other music, or even other topics. Everything relates.

· Get physical exercise, a good night’s sleep and eat nutritious meals

Ø Make a Schedule

· Having a practice schedule will allow you to focus on the following four points:

1. “Does your practice time reflect your ultimate goal?”

2. “Are your mind, muscles, and musical instincts being used daily? It has been established that the mind, muscles and musical instincts develop best with constant use and reinforcement.”

3. “Do you have a set time to practice? One way that practicing can be productive is to schedule a regular daily practice time. It is not at all uncommon for professional musicians to refuse to answer the telephone or door when practicing.”

4. “How long should you practice? Students entering music schools bring with them a wide range of backgrounds and work habits...” The practice time “should be broken down into sessions not exceeding forty-five minutes to one hour. It is important to have at least a fifteen minute break between each session.”

· “While it is important not to make the practice schedule an inflexible tool, it is important to recognize that too much deviation from your written schedule suggests that you need to reexamine your goals, priorities, and scheduling.”

Competitions (or math tests!)

Ø Practice, practice, practice. How you practice on a daily basis is how you will do in the competition. Mistakes will not instantly go away.

Ø Record your playing, then analyze it (e.g. look over previous homework, quizzes and tests)

Ø Place yourself in conditions similar – gather up a mini audience (e.g. take a practice test)

Ø Arrive early

Ø It’s good to be nervous, but take a deep breadth and relax a little. Use your nervousness in a positive way

Ø Right before you start to play, take a quiet moment and remember musical things which you need to concentrate on. (e.g., reading directions carefully, pacing yourself, sign errors, double checking, etc.)

Ø Smile when you’re done, enjoy your accomplishments, and remember each competition helps you to become a better musician

Benefits of Music

Ø Brings enjoyment to yourself and others

Ø Increases self expression

Ø Provides job opportunities

Ø Develops skills useful in life

Ø Sharpens your mind

Ø Brings people together

Ø Expands your horizons

The above ideas have come from my kids’ music teachers over the years. The quotes are from “The Art & Technique of Practice” by Richard Provost.