In our search for growth as musicians, we can too often become obsessed with information, sometimes overlooking simple tasks that can get us sounding better with what we already have. Gathering the hippest lines or voicings or rhythms is an enticing (and never-ending) quick fix to our shortcomings as players, but often times it’s not a lack of information that holds us back, but rather a lack of retention and execution of the things we already know. Let’s fix that.
Here are three essential strategies to get real results from your time at your instrument:
PRACTICE TO YOUR WEAKNESSES – It’s human nature to stay as comfortable as possible at all times. Unfortunately, growth only comes when we spend time working on the things that are out of our comfort zone. Stop using your practice time to play the things you’re already good at. Instead, take some time to identify those areas that are real weaknesses in your playing, and work exclusively on those things. You can record yourself playing a tune, or better yet, have a teacher or a more experienced musician listen to you and evaluate your biggest short-comings. It’s not going to be fun, but it is by far the most efficient way to improve.
HAVE A PLAN – Before you even sit down with your instrument, write down five things (weaknesses) you need to practice to get better – and then PRACTICE THOSE THINGS. It sounds simple and obvious – and it is. How often have we sat down to practice and ended up endlessly noodling on a standard that we’ve been endlessly noodling on for years? Stop doing that. Another advantage of writing down your practice agenda is that you can see exactly where you’ve been – keep hitting ideas that require attention and check off the things that you’ve gained proficiency on.
BE CONSISTENT – Have grit. Make practice a daily routine. Twenty minutes daily will garner bigger improvements than three hours once a week. This is the most psychologically difficult element of the three, but if implemented yields the most powerful results over time.
HAPPY PRACTICING!
