Note 9 Trying to find Parallels for Practice

March 29, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Progress is from practice.
I am not going to go and cite research for this one. Remember this is a blog, a diary of thoughts.
Sometimes I feel like an immigrant in this violin community. I know a little of the language to get around--to ask for a sandwich, find a bus, ask directions to a restroom. Just enough to navigate. The longer I live in this community to more I know that I don't know. (This blog is still about practice so if you are a "native" you have probably moved on to a more erudite discussion.)
I can learn the language and speak more intelligently or I can learn the habits and customs of the natives. Learn to walk the walk.
So in this new country I need to reach into something that I have done successfully in the past to analyze what it was that made me meet my goals.
I have decided that without regular lessons from a "native" I won't learn how to play this thing at all and without practice. I have lost 6 chances to improve.
Day one is the lesson with all it's inspiration, lists of things to do, and sometimes an impromptu solo concert that always makes me go away with a heart that has doubled in size! ( I will write at a later date about the personal significance of a "lesson" for an adult student) After that, day 2-7 is my responsibility.
I had some measure of success with Weight Watchers. I came to meetings, I created an environment to drop weight. I changed my eating habits, my exercise habits and my association with friends who celebrated with food. This is something I had to do every day--it was hard to change something that was comfortable.
When I attended meetings I had to face a roomful of people who were rooting for me. They were in various stages of meeting their weight loss goals--From the very large men and women to the tiny slim ones. Why did the slim ones attend? To be in a community of encouraging adults all trying to keep up a certain level of performance as it were. The real work was keeping to a schedule and following it each day even when you knew that the progress was measured in as little as 1/2 pound loss in weight. You have to weigh in. Magic doesn't happen at each meeting. Drinking water, exercise, writing down each bite you put in your mouth-What a royal pain in the neck! Physical torture!
Magic doesn't happen at each lesson. If you have not done the work each day during your lesson such as going over and over one phrase at a time, remembering each movement that each arm has to execute in order to produce a beautiful sound or singing the passage in your head. Mental torture!--Way more fun than Weight Watchers for sure.
As an adult student there is no one actually pushing us to practice, big recitals hanging over our heads or the chair positions to fight for or a talented father or mother who can play like the angels. What is there? Our reasons are personal. Some of us can clearly state our resolve and others lock it away our hearts.
I want to state in writing how important the practice following the lesson is.
If I set goals at my next lesson that I have already achieved, can I fake my way to the next lesson? Who am I kidding?
If I want to feel good about myself I should go take clarinet lessons! I can already play clarinet--I could feel good for at least a year or two--Ha!
Ok, back to practice!
(That means you too.)

From Drew Lecher
Posted on March 30, 2008 at 3:10 AM

Remember — progress is addictive.
Enjoy!

From T Netz
Posted on April 1, 2008 at 7:26 PM

I hear you Kim! I have kids who all play instruments and I'm a drill sargent about their practicing. But, for myself, it's harder. So much to do and so little time that the day is gone before you know it and no practice has occurred.

I feel much better about myself when I get my practice session in. I'm a bit OCD. I stew over things left undone. Yeah, tomorrow is another day but surely there were 15 minutes in the previous day that I could have practiced.

Actually, what I've started doing is I leave my inexpensive beginner violin sitting out on a stand. I find I can grab it and play for 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day. Then, if things are so crazy that I can't do a full hour or two hour practice, at least I've done something.

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Note 9 Trying to find Parallels for Practice

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