Practice Part 2: Beyond Beginners

Episode Overview

"Just practice more" isn't helpful advice for advancing students who are already putting in the time. In this episode, Jessica and Janet explore what neuroscience tells us about effective practice and how to help intermediate and advanced students work smarter, not just harder.

What You'll Learn

• How the brain actually encodes and retrieves musical skills
• Evidence-based practice strategies from Dr. Molly Gebrian's research
• Helping students self-diagnose and design their own practice sessions
• The role of mental practice and visualization

Key Takeaways

Effective practice is a skill that must be taught explicitly. By understanding the science of learning, we can help our advancing students break through plateaus and continue growing as musicians.

Show Notes

• Jessica bases her philosophy which she calls "evidence based practice" off of Dr. Molly Gebrian's research and work. Check out her book, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practice. Molly Gebrian's website includes a "cheat sheet" list of practice techniques from her book that is a great reference point.
• Jessica alludes to this document, What Musicians Can Learn About Practicing from Current Brain Research, by Gebrian. Here is a lecture by Gebrian herself on this topic.
• Check out Jessica's epic practice strategies wall chart. We go through each one individually in this episode, starting around the 10 minute 30 second mark.
• When we discuss "variable practice" Jessica discusses a study on The Bulletproof Musician website.
• Janet's practice strategies "wheel of destiny" is here.
• Take a look at one of Janet's in-class "check in spots" assignment slips - it's a great way to assess the effectiveness of practice strategies for individual students.