Make a list. Check it twice. Or more.

Lately I've been going to to the gym a lot. As some of my students know, I've got a bet going with a friend that  I can get a six pack! Well, one thing I've learned in doing this is the importance of listing and recording my exercises. 

Getting in peak physical condition, like learning a piece of music, is a process that takes continued effort over the long haul. And if you aren't structured in your effort, a lot of time and effort will be wasted. One simple way around this is to keep a practice notebook (like a piano workout log). 

Here was mine from this morning. (I was working on the last two lines of the Chopin B-flat minor prelude): 

- Hands alone, ghosting (mentally playing one hand while the other hand actually plays), 3x each hand

-Mental practice, hands together, 3x

-Perfect playthrough with full concentration, hands together, 3x

This is just a sample list...I used it in conjunction with "penny practice" (see my recent post) to monitor myself.

There are many values to having a written list when practicing. For one thing it keeps you on task, while allowing for flexibility. For instance, mid practice-session I realized my left hand needed special attention, so I was able to practice it without losing sight of my overall goals. 

Another important value of a list is that it allows you to keep track of your overall progress with a piece. If you keep your list in a notebook, you can even make notes about what is going well, what needs more work in future practice sessions, etc. 

Moreover, as I've mentioned in previous posts, keeping a list is a very important way of allowing yourself to fully engage in music making without having to plan the actual practice session at the same time.

Comments

[John Forster (foss)]

Yes I agree - keeping a log is essential.Without it you don't know where you are or where you've been so you have no chance of knowing where you're going.Any novice like me reading this take heed.Keeping a log works !