For Technique Tuesdays, I break down a technique and explain why it is beneficial and what makes it a good thing to do. Today, I’m somewhat stretching the technique, but not really. The definition of technique is: a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure. And the most important skill as a musician is translating the language that is in our heads or on the page to sound and making it come alive. And how do we do that? Practice!
One of the things that I’ve noticed in my studio is that not everyone regularly practices outside of their lesson time. And I’m not alone in this. I’ve seen social media posts and many comments from other teachers about practicing and laments of why it’s not happening and trying to help bring it about. And I’ve come up with this example and comparison that I think can help explain why practicing is helpful. Let’s say you sign your child up for a basketball team. They don’t have any practices, only a 30 minute meeting before the game where the coach teaches them the basics and fundamentals, then they play the game. How many of those players on the team will go on to excellence in playing basketball the rest of their lives, if they continue in that route of playing? Probably none of them! Here’s how lessons typically work. The teacher works with the student for 30, 45 minutes, maybe an hour, tries to make it fun and engaging, showing and helping the student learn all of the details and technical aspects of music. Student goes home and goes on with life. When will they look at that music again? For some, immediately upon returning home, for others, the next day, for still others, the next time they show up at their lesson.
Practice reinforces what is learned. Practice builds up the skill needed to excel. I’m guessing as you’ve read this, you haven’t had to sound out any words that you’re reading. Why? You’ve practiced! You know the answer to 2+2. Why? You’ve practiced! You don’t have to think about how to walk. Why? You’ve done it your whole life….which is a lot of practice! Practice is how we grow, strengthen and build skills. Yes, the lesson is important, but honestly, I think it’s the least important part of the student’s journey through the week. Not because the teaching is bad, but the reinforcing is where the connections and long term growth happens.
This week, I have this saying on the studio board. You see, yes, practice is important, but HOW you practice is even more important. My mother would regularly set a timer and I had to sit at the piano (the one that I teach at now!) and I couldn’t leave the bench until that timer went off. Or she’d wash the dishes by hand and I couldn’t be done practicing until she was finished. And she took her time!! That’s good, but really, it’s not always the length of practice, it’s what you do with the time. Playing your piece 5 times through is good, but does it build confidence, fix the trouble spots, or reinforce hesitations and incorrect notes and rhythms? Ultimately, it comes down to a saying that my maternal grandmother always said. “Good, better best. Never let it rest. Until the good is better and the better is best.”
That saying from my grandmother doesn’t mention perfection. As musicians and as humans we won’t be perfect. But, as we strive for better and strive for growth, we take what is good, or “good enough” and work to make it better, leading ultimately to what is the best we can do. For me in my musical journey as a student, I did great at the “good enough” and never really pushed to be better. That’s a lesson that I’ve learned that I’m trying to teach my students and help them understand so that they can be successful.
So, while practicing isn’t really a technique, it is the technique needed to improve and grow as a musician. Whenever parents ask me how long their child should be practicing, I respond with a straight face and say, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And that’s not reality. And even then, we’d still be imperfect. But as I remind students, 5 minutes a day is better than 0 minutes a day. 10 minutes a day is better than 5 minutes a day. 15 minutes a day is better than 10 minutes a day. And so on and so forth. Something is better than nothing. And more is better than something. So, I’ll be getting to practicing now! And I encourage you to do the same!
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