​It arrived, I've read it, I'm about to try it out for 90 days and see what happens to my drumming. 
​
Benny outlines the rationale of organized practice is a humorous and unique way. The preamble until you get to his EPM systems chapters is good sense and common knowledge among professional musicians. But it gets interesting with his practice system.

Let's start at the beginning.

Organizing your practice space. He recommends imagining the setup of your perfect space, then assess your situation and arrange you space as close as you can to this ideal.  I can now say my space looks different. I'm up and running now with 3 flicks of switches, boot my DAW, load the preset and Bingo, I'm ready to go. Books are in place, pencil and journal are ready. Up next a kitchen timer, I'm going to use an old iPhone for this purpose.  Benny Greb has some true insights into learning. 

Next...
​
1. Quickly name your favorite musicians of your instrument.
2. Now note what you admire about each of them.
3. Now consider your top 3 choices.
4. Now rate yourself 1 to 10 on your skill with the qualities you admire in their playing. Do not give yourself a 5.
5. Now when you practice, practice those to improve those qualities.
6. Buy his book.

Stayed tuned for the results of his 90-day practice regime. 
​
​David Story

So much proverbial ink has been spilled on the topic of motivation and motivating the unmotivated.

• intrinsic motivation: from within
• extrinsic motivation: from without
• compulsion: at the point of a gun, a subset of extrinsic motivation. Recall Hollywood drill sergeants 

​"Intrinsic motivation is motivation that is animated by personal enjoyment, interest, or pleasure. As Deci et al. (1999) observe, “intrinsic motivation energizes and sustains activities through the spontaneous satisfactions inherent in effective volitional action."
Author: Emily R Lai
Cited by: 83
Publish Year: 2011

This is an interesting article for all musicians and teachers. Some of the research driven theories covered include the role self-belief or " self-efficacy plays in success. Self-efficacy is the “judgments of how well one can execute courses of action required to deal with prospective situations”.

And, the role of the desire to achieve an end for it's own reasons and the desire to impress, or draw favorable attention to one's self.  As stated in the article, "mastery goals" or "performance goals". Intrinsic and extrinsic.

Regardless of the type of or nobility of the the desire, the strength of the desire leads to action or "volition".  In other words getting off one's butt and moving forward in the belief it is possible.

​David
 

 Three months of reflection during isolation has yielded valuable insights. 

1. I understand what I value as a musician.
2. I understand whose company I treasure and whose I do not.
3. I understand my value in the musical marketplace.
   

I am sure you have gone through a similar experience.

So, I am still practicing. I also have sought out younger musicians to learn from as well. I am working out safe jamming practices/spaces for piano and guitar trios to meet.

The cinematic noise trio Fade/Dissolve will continue to produce work and post it online. Our newest work drops soon.

I will be taking a live online class in adult education next month. I am reading, creating, dreaming, and scheming.

It is going to be ok, but it is going to be different.

What's the coolest thing that could happen to your musical life in the next five years? I've answered this question, have you?

Stay well.

David

Fifth week, wow. An unknown number of weeks to go. Let's stay busy with positive activities. 

1. Rest
2. Exercise
3. Practice
4. Eat well
5. Keep up our network by virtual networks
6. Plan for the future
7. Reconnect with your spouse
   
8. Enjoy Netflix
   

This will end.

​David

1.  1st goal is to be here in 10 years. 
   
2. 2nd goal? Be happily married.
   
3. 3rd goal? Study and practice with the most effective coaches I can find in drumming and piano.
   
4.  4th goal? That in four more years I start cutting back one day a week, until I'm down to 3 days a week of teaching. About 20 hours. Financial impendence is arriving soon. 
   

What is your ten year plan?

David

She takes up the drums and 70, now 72 she plays in two jazz bands. Go girl! Proof below.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/more-older-adults-learn-its-never-too-late-to-pick-up-a-musical-instrument/2016/11/10/628857ec-a570-11e6-8fc0-7be8f848c492_story.html

Benefits:

"Research shows that music stimulates the brain and enhances memory in older people. In one study, adults aged 60 to 85 without previous musical experience showed improved verbal fluency and processing speed after a few months of weekly piano lessons." Jennifer Bugos, assistant professor of music education at the University of South Florida 

I say imagine what it does for those who keep playing throughout their lives.

Cheers,

​David

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/