Approaching Practice

I still find the process of how skills are learnt remarkable, especially when at the piano. At first impression, a new skill can almost be discouragingly foreign and illogical. With examination, each element of the skill begins to shift into focus. Slowly when replicated at the piano in small attainable pieces, the logic starts to shift into physical co-ordination. Repetition brings even more focus and confidence in the skill. Micro and macro adjustments are made as we scrutinize and problem solve methodically. After sufficient repetition that foreign skill has now become a familiar action of logic, muscle memory and co-ordination. This is the act and value of practice.

As someone who has spent most of the past decade isolated in my practice room, often doubting the payoff to practice, I found great value in the research of Anders Ericsson. His work entitled Expert Performance and its Acquisition highlights that skill acquisition is a gradual process optimized by clear comprehension and repetition, but also that elite ability commonly takes over ten years of “intense involvement.” Ericsson’s research emphasizes that practice needs to be focused and systematic.

Anders Ericsson extract on deliberate practice;

“When people are introduced to an unfamiliar domain of activity, such as a new job, sport, or game, they frequently encounter situations where they cannot react fast enough or where they are unable to produce functional actions, resulting in obvious failures. Over time, they are able to figure out adequate responses by practice, problem‐solving, and trial‐and‐error or with help from supervisors, teachers, or colleagues. With further experience they become increasingly able to generate rapid adequate actions with less and less effort”

“Significant improvements in performance were realized when individuals were 1) given a task with a well‐defined goal, 2) motivated to improve, 3) provided with feedback, and 4) provided with ample opportunities for repetition and gradual refinements of their performance.”

Anders Ericsson extract on results of deliberate practice;

“abrupt improvements in performance do not occur, and changes over time are gradual.”

Anders Ericsson extract on elite skill acquisition;

“Finally, all performers, even the most “talented,” need around 10 years of intense involvement before they reach an international level in established sports, sciences, and arts. Most elite individuals take considerably longer to reach that level.”

Find the point where precision is faltering, and target your practice to build strength in these areas. Correcting and making adjustments is the bulk of what practice is. Repeatedly making the same mistakes means you need to look closer at the content and work out the flawed action. Be patient with your practice.

It is important to build a process of efficient learning that doesn’t lead to disillusionment. Within your practice it is also important to set time to enjoy and play songs/passages that are within your ability, not just continually in a state of scrutiny and correction. Switch up the order and routine. Understand a fresh mind at the start of the session will be more productive than at the end of the session. Fatigue, distraction, frustration will come up. Try to breathe through it and train yourself to shift back into clear thinking with focus. Take breaks regularly and at the times where frustration hits the limit. Relax, focus, and learn.