On Jun 12, 9:41 am, Mike Estep PhD
MikeEstep.com> wrote:> I've been giving private music lessons for 22 years on bass, drums,
> guitar, keyboard, vocals, and music technologies. My many students
> have covered the gamut of ages (5-75) and walks of life (carpenters,
> electricians, housewives, politicians, doctors, lawyers, students,
> teachers, farmers, ranchers, pastors, etc.). In some ways I've felt
> like a counselor, having been in a position to observe much about
> human behavior.
>
> Whenever a person wants to develop skills in any area, it is advisable
> to go to experts who have the fruit on the tree. For example, seek out
> people who have been using such skills several years longer than you,
> have an excellent reputation, and can show you practical information
> and true shortcuts. One of my great passions in this life (since age
> 8) has been the pursuit of various aspects of music performance,
> theory, technology, philosophy, and instruction. Over the last 39
> years, I've developed a certain expertise in this field. Therefore,
> students usually come to me because they feel I have information that
> can help them learn to play.
>
> In all the time I've been teaching, it has never ceased to amaze me
> that many students have an aversion to practice. I generally expected
> this to be more common among children, but it is just as common with
> adult students. This is especially perplexing when you consider that
> the adults are personally paying me to teach them.
>
> I've also heard the gamut of excuses, which generally includes a
> statement similar to "I didn't have time to practice this week." What
> this usually means is: "I didn't feel like practicing this week", or
> "Practice isn't fun so I didn't want to do it."
>
> I don't expect my beginning students to spend an exorbitant amount of
> time in practice either. I suggest that they put in a minimum of 30
> minutes per day, 4-5 days per week to see decent results within a 6-
> month period of time. This is not unreasonable. Even so, many students
> won't pick up their instrument until they come to the next lesson.
>
> I'm not a slave driver or forceful in my presentation. I spend much
> time trying to paint pictures in the minds of my students, helping
> them to see the possibilities and that they can learn to do the things
> I show them - if they implement what I say. However, it's common for
> some students to want the skills to magically appear without having to
> work at it.
>
> So far, I've been talking specifically about music instruction, but
> these points also apply to anything that is worth pursuing in this
> life.
>
> We live in an instant society. With the push of a button we can turn
> on lights, air conditioners, microwave ovens, television, radio, etc.
> We create technologies to help us increase comfort and convenience.
> But in this pursuit, people can neglect developing delayed
> gratification. Therefore, it is quite easy to become lazy and have an
> underdeveloped work ethic.
>
> However, if we want to develop skills and knowledge in anything, it
> takes dedicated effort. Sometimes learning and training will not be
> fun, but this is a poor excuse for procrastination. If we have time to
> watch TV, we have time to spend on developing a skill.
It's called "discipline". Those who have it, succeed. Those who don't,
don't. If discipline is not instilled at a young age, then you get
undisciplined adults.
> Having said that, here are some techniques that can help us motivate
> ourselves to do the work, if practiced regularly and consistently...
>
> 1. Tell yourself out loud statements like: "I'm good at what I do...I
> can do this...I learn easily...I remember easily."
>
> 2. Visualize what you want as if you are already able to perform it.
> Include positive emotions - pretend it is fun.
What makes you think an undisciplined person is going to take the time
or effort to do this day in and day out?
> Given these types of information, the subconscious part of your mind
> doesn't distinguish the real from the imagined. At some point, it
> starts to react to what it is given, which in turn can help change
> your behavior to what is desired.
You can't trick yourself into believing something that isn't true for
you. This is called self-delusion, not self-improvement.
You could spend 23 1/2 hours a day repeating a mantra, but only
disciplined practice is going to make you a genuine musician. Sorry,
there are no shortcuts.
> If you don't believe this, consider what happens when you watch a
> fictional movie. Has the scenery in a movie ever made you angry,
> brought you to tears, provoked you to talk to the characters on
> screen, or had you sitting on pins and needles? The emotions and
> reactions you experience are real even if the movie is fictional. This
> is because the subconscious part of your mind does not distinguish the
> information as fiction. It instead reacts at an emotional and
> behavioral level to the information perceived as if it were real.
>
> Therefore, using the above mentioned techniques can go a long way in
> helping you to be in control of your mind and thus make better
> decisions.
No, I don't think so. Trying to trick yourself is what lazy people do
instead of practicing.
> These truths are simple and work for us if we work for them. So, roll
> up those sleeves and get to work on developing skills and knowledge -
> in music or whatever area you pursue.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike Estep PhD
>
> Mike
Estep.com - Common Sense Outside the
Boxhttp://mikeestep.com
