Practicing in our mature years

Goals and Pacing are what counts.

Goals: Having a clear idea of what is most important at any given time is the key to not wasting our precious time and energies. We need goals in a couple of areas.

1. Immediate practice goals to be ready for our next performance
2. Intermediate practice goals to keep ourselves in top musical shape technically
3. Ongoing goals to maintain our repertoire
4. Goals to grow musically, even as our bodies slow down

Growth can continue until we decide not to. There are always ways to stay excited and motivated. See some of the other previous posts for more.

Pacing: Spaced repetition

1. Preserves energy
2. Maximizes retention
3. Saves time

The following "Guardian" article explains that "Using spaced repetition as a study technique is effective because you are deliberately hacking the way your brain works"

It also works as a practice tactic. 

Final thought: "What is the one thing that would make the biggest difference in your musical competency? This is your highest value activity? 

• Phrasing
• Comping
  
• Time
  
• Tuning
  
• Sight reading
• Repertoire depth

Here our mine.

1. Piano, mastering the Royal Conservatory of Music piano repertoire books. Why? This will keep my piano skills in top shape. Secondly, it will add real value to my lessons.
2. Drums, mastering and refining my time sense. As Terry Clarke says, "it's all about time". Feel comes from time. No time, no feel, no groove, no gigs.

Cheers,

David Story

My next performance is Sunday November 27 2016 in Toronto Ontario New Music and Dance. Details: http://luminousgestures.weebly.com/ 

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