deliberate practice

I think sometimes students do mindless repetition for practice without breaking it down in such a way that the brain retains the piece. I had a student today who struggles with remembering her pieces so we just slowly went through a series of questions and…

• Last updated 3 months ago
• aural cues, bad memory, cognitive understanding, conscious learning, deliberate practice, key names, key naming, LAWOL, learning, learning a new way of learning, learning a way of learning, learning from SHMs, learning from video, learning note names, learning strategies, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, listing learning tools and strategies, memorization, memorizing, memorizing harder pieces, memorizing pieces, memorizing songs, memory, memory issues, memory muscle, memory problem, mindfulness, muscle memory, naming keys, naming notes, naming the keys, note names, note naming, overcoming memory problems, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, remember, remembering, remembering arrangements, remembering patterns, remembering variations, single thought process, single thought processes, STP, strategies, tips on remembering arrangements, tool, tools, tools and strategies

Please read this post with the mindset that a student is playing too fast and you CAN’T slow them down they are great students and they totally on board for the long term relationship they don’t have any other problems other than slowing down (…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• audio, audio materials, audio recording, Audio recordings, audio SHMs, breaking things down, control the events, controlling the events, counting, counting rhythms, CTE, deliberate practice, external rewards, external speaker, external speakers, extrinsic rewards, fast playing, getting student to slow down, gifts, how to play, how to practice, internal metronome, intrinsic rewards, learning slowly, listening to audio recordings, listening to the audio recordings, metronome, motivation, play along, playing along with audio, playing fast vs slow, playing slowly, playing speed, playing too fast, playing with audio tracks, poor practice, practice, practice guidelines, practice habits, practicing, practicing guidelines, practicing slowly, rewards, slow practice, slow-steady-musical-even, slowing down, speaking instructions out loud, SSME, stickers, student rewards, teaching how to practice, using audio recordings, using audio tracks, using the audio recordings to learn songs, visualize, visualize practice, what to play, working with parents on how to practice

Here is something that every one of my students have above their pianos. Obviously if your students are in the lower foundations, intervals, counting would not be needed but I find it a great tool to help remind them what boxes need to be ticked.…

• Last updated 1 year ago
• at home practice, audio recording, Audio recordings, audio SHMs, best practices, BH, both hands, deliberate practice, enhancing practice, external speaker, external speakers, hands together, how to practice, HT, managing practice, managing practice time, play along, playing along with audio, playing with audio tracks, practice, practice guidelines, practice habits, practice ideas, practice routine, practice time, separate hands, SH, slow practice, speaking instructions out loud, teaching how to practice, together right, trouble with hands together, using audio recordings, using audio tracks, voice, writing intervals

Those that also work with students 60+ might find something useful in a recent post to my students: Happy New Year! 🎉🎊 I hope you’re looking forward to an enjoyable year of music making in 2023! Here are a few tips that will support your…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• deliberate practice, glasses, hearing impairment, older student, older students, practice habits, tracking practice, vision impairment, visually impaired

I’m curious about the psychology behind the brain’s ability to increase the speed of muscle memory (play a song faster), but its struggle to decrease the speed of the same task. Anyone? Not an expert neurological answer, but: Speed comes with familiarity and comfort. Slowness…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• adding expression, automatic, automaticity, competence, control the events, controlling the events, creating awareness, CTE, deliberate practice, expression, expressive playing, fast playing, flexibility, getting student to slow down, knowing, learning slowly, memory muscle, mindfulness, muscle memory, musical expression, Neil Moore, neurology, playing fast vs slow, playing slowly, playing speed, playing too fast, playing with expression, practicing slowly, psychology, self expression, slow practice, slow-steady-musical-even, slowing down, speed of learning, tempo, thoughtlessness