Practicing is a personal activity; no two people are the same, and this also goes for practice. However, there are some fundamental forces that are part of the learning experience for all of us. Learning to use and balance these processes will lead to successful and efficient use of our precious time. In this series, we will discuss the three elements of successful practice.
The First Element: Repetition
This may seem obvious; everybody knows you have to repeat things to learn. However, what we are discussing here is a very specifically structured activity, geared toward building muscle memory. Here are my suggestions on how to optimize the use of repetition.
1. Play a single, short passage over and over within one “frame” of concentration. This means something that will fit within a few seconds; if the passage is difficult, this may mean just a few notes. When the notes are learned, it may mean a whole phrase.
2. The power of repetition is diluted by distraction; moving on to another passage, even the one directly after the subject, can confuse this very concentrated activity. Make sure to stop and go back rather than continuing on to more material. Our goal is to work on one thing at a time without our mind having any question as to what the subject is.
3. Avoid taking on too much in a repetition frame; if the passage is too long it may extend beyond the 5-6 second window of this type of practice. What may happen is that by the time we get to the end, too much time will have elapsed for the repetition to work. This technique works best if we return to something within a few seconds. Imagine trying to keep a beach ball aloft.
4. This activity loses its effectiveness after a few minutes; after this the learning process for this passage has passed. After this, we are gaining little. Additionally, repetitive-stress injuries can be caused and exacerbated by over-repetition. The temptation here is to keep repeating in order to feel the satisfaction and closure of “mastering” it. This can’t be done in one session, however.
5. We can tell that our “window” has passed when we find our mind wandering; continuing to repeat after this will train us to daydream as we practice, arguably one of the worst things for our playing.
6. Use analytical powers during repetition; Notice how everything feels, and correct small errors. This deep observation will help keep our minds from drifting, and it will help make our sense of touch stronger.
7. Be honest about how much “fits” into the repetition loop, and whether it needs to be broken-down further. If the passage can’t be played well enough for repetition, it needs to be slowed down and reduced in length until a successful run is achieved.
8. Since this type of practice is, by definition, in short shifts, it is crucial to have a list of passages to practice. For me, when I am learning a lot of difficult music, I have a “grid” of all the sections I need to work on, allowing me to check stuff off every day. I even keep track of how many days I have worked on the various parts, and how much progress I have made.
Repetition is just one of three elements we will discuss in this series. In part II, we will discuss the second key to practice, reinforcement.
Question: How do you use repetition in your practice routine? Have you ever over-repeated?
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