Practice Tips
The following extract is taken from Ed Kreitman's Teaching from the Balance Point (available from the BSI music shop):
Many adults believe that 'practice makes perfect' but the truth is that practice makes consistent. Bad practice will make you an expert at playing something badly! Playing our instrument is a very enjoyable pastime. We play through old pieces that we know and enjoy and we play together in group class or with friends who get together to make music.Practice is the 'work' part of developing technique on an instrument, and acquiring skill.
Ed Kreitman identifies three steps in the acquisition of skill, the 'three Cs':
1. Comprehension (understanding the task)
2. Cooperation (getting your physical body to cooperate with what your mind comprehends)
3. Constructive repetition (repeating the task after you have achieved cooperation)
As a home practiser, child or adult, we can achieve our goals so much more quickly by consistent attention to these three principles.
Many adults believe that 'practice makes perfect' but the truth is that practice makes consistent. Bad practice will make you an expert at playing something badly! Playing our instrument is a very enjoyable pastime. We play through old pieces that we know and enjoy and we play together in group class or with friends who get together to make music.Practice is the 'work' part of developing technique on an instrument, and acquiring skill.
Ed Kreitman identifies three steps in the acquisition of skill, the 'three Cs':
1. Comprehension (understanding the task)
2. Cooperation (getting your physical body to cooperate with what your mind comprehends)
3. Constructive repetition (repeating the task after you have achieved cooperation)
As a home practiser, child or adult, we can achieve our goals so much more quickly by consistent attention to these three principles.
