The Power of Deliberate Practice
One of the concepts that I’ve recently implemented into my teaching and personal practise is the concept of deliberate practise.
Deliberate practice is a type of practice that is specifically designed to improve performance by incorporating mindfulness, goal-setting, journalling, and a constant growth mindset; it’s also incredibly simple to utilise. How often do you find yourself sitting down on your instrument only to play for a few minutes before exhausting your motivation and finding yourself sitting idle as Netflix occupies the rest of your evening? Too often, I bet. Deliberate practice is the answer; it isn’t taxing, nor is it painful or exhausting. It’s simply the type of practice that separates you from your goals.
The concept of deliberate practice was first introduced by Anders Ericsson, a psychologist at Florida State University. Ericsson studied the performance of violinists, chess players, and other experts, and he found that they all engaged in deliberate practice. He also found that the amount of deliberate practice that someone does is directly correlated with their level of expertise.
So, what does deliberate practice look like? It typically involves three elements:
Identifying your weaknesses. The first step is to identify your weaknesses in the skill you are trying to improve. This can be done by getting feedback from others, or by observing yourself and tracking your progress.
Challenging yourself. Once you know your weaknesses, you need to challenge yourself to improve them. This means setting specific goals and working on them until you achieve them.
Getting feedback. It is important to get feedback on your performance so that you can track your progress and make adjustments as needed. This feedback can come from coaches, mentors, or even just yourself.
Here are some tips for incorporating deliberate practice into your routine:
Set specific goals for each practice session. What do you want to achieve in that session? What are your specific goals for improvement?
Find a mentor or coach who can provide you with feedback. This is an essential part of deliberate practice. You need someone who can give you honest feedback on your performance so that you can make the necessary adjustments.
Track your progress over time. This will help you to see how you are improving and to stay motivated.
Be patient and persistent. Deliberate practice takes time and effort. Don't expect to become an expert overnight. Just keep practising and you will eventually reach your goals.
Deliberate practice is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your goals.
Here are some examples of deliberate practice:
A basketball player practising free throws until they can make 80% of them.
A musician practising scales until they can play them perfectly.
A student studying math problems until they can solve them quickly and accurately.
Deliberate practice can be applied to any skill that you want to improve. If you are willing to put in the hard work, you can achieve your goals. This is why I implement the concept in lessons so strictly, with students, I consider this concept a non-negotiable. The consistent application of deliberate practise transcends musical goals; it actually reaps applies to any discipline or industry in the world, whether you aspire to be a lawyer, a doctor, or a filmmaker.
I hope this blog post has inspired you to start practising deliberately.
Be patient and persistent. Deliberate practice takes time and consistency. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep practising and you will eventually reach your goals.
If you’d like to discuss this concept further, feel free to get in touch.