Redefining Practice
The wonders of music are varied and seemingly endless. Thanks to neuroscience, we are starting to understand the facets of our musical experiences. Listening, playing, or creating music simultaneously involves several different areas of the brain. It engages the prefrontal cortex (logic and reasoning), the cerebellum (rhythm and movement), not to mention the amygdala (emotional processing). Incredible!
When asked what music means to them, most people respond with similar ideas. Music is a method for connection + expression. It helps people to understand and process emotions. Music is a process that encourages creativity and curiosity. Music is an awe-inspiring entity, both concrete and visceral, yet sometimes intangible.
As Communications Manager for Rock 101, I have asked this question of many students, instructors, and families. “What does music mean to you?” Every answer has been unique while maintaining the same themes listed above. Not once, in all of the interviews I have conducted, has an individual answered this question by saying, “Music is something that should be mastered.”
Although most of us smirked or even laughed at the thought of that last statement, it highlights a common myth that we often stumble into when we participate in music education.
MYTH: To become better at an instrument, you must practice concrete skills for 20-30 minutes every day.
Every music instructor in the room just sighed heavily.
To be clear, practice is most certainly important if you are going to establish growth in any skill. The issue we take with the above statement is that it assumes practice must look a certain way and must last for a predetermined amount of time. We want very badly to quantify music practice and to create an equation that can be followed in order to produce mastery of music.
Every music instructor in the room just rolled their eyes.
Mastery of a theory or chord progression? Perhaps. Mastery of music? No such thing. Remember that music is both concrete and intangible at the same time. It is concrete because we are manipulating instruments, we are learning how to piece notes together, and we are learning musical theory. Someone who has mastered those skills, however, would never be able to play a piece of music that moves you to tears due to its beauty.
Learning music means that we are also learning how to access those intangible areas, such as understanding how sounds connect to emotions and memories. It requires us to continually make ourselves vulnerable as we explore the truths of being human and then express these concepts in a sonic landscape.
The pursuit of music never ends because our growth as humans never ends. As long as we continue living and evolving, our experiences with music will evolve as well.
Every music instructor in the room just fist bumped the instructor next to them.
Let’s circle back around to this myth: In order to become better at an instrument, you must practice concrete skills for 20-30 minutes every day. Perhaps now you see the discrepancy. Practice is important, but we need to redefine what “practice” means!
Take a look at the skills below. These are all considered practicing music.
Reading books on music theory. This engages the prefrontal cortex and helps us to logically understand what is happening in pieces of music.
Practicing music drills. This allows body parts to learn the muscle memory necessary to play an instrument. It also connects the logical brain with the physical body.
Listening to music. Listening to music accomplishes many goals! It helps us to feel the connection between sound and emotion. It aids in learning rhythm and timing. Listening is an experience. When we practice experiencing music, we are more likely to reproduce those experiences in our own music.
Jam Sessions. Whether with others or solo, creating musical melodies without sheet music helps to connect several areas of the brain by utilizing logic and creativity together. It also helps musicians to understand and define their personal style.
Musical Innovation. This is like a musical experiment. What does it sound like when I piece these notes together or use my instrument in a unique way? For some learners, direct experience is the greatest teacher!
Instrument Exploration. Some students love learning the basics of several different instruments. To the untrained eye, this appears to be a lack of focus or jumping around from one instrument to another. For the student, however, it is building a wealth of knowledge that they will then be able to connect in interesting ways!
Watching Other Musicians. Going to concerts is like a musical field trip. You get to study the real world application of different elements of music. Observe how musicians use their instruments and how the music makes you feel, then back to the “classroom” you go to apply this new knowledge.
Daydreaming. This is called diffuse mode and refers to a relaxed, wandering state of mind. Turns out we all need this! Information we take in while we are focused is integrated into the brain while we are daydreaming. Learning does not happen without daydreaming, so go ahead and relax.
Parents and students, this is your permission slip! Parents, allow your child to practice in a variety of ways that they choose. They do not need to have a formal, concrete practice every single day! Students, you do need to practice, but create a practice that makes sense to you. How would you like to explore today? Do that thing.
Creating and playing music is an expression of our shared humanity. Pablo Casals, the Spanish cellist, composer, and conductor, said of music: “Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” That, my friends, sounds fantastic. Let’s get out there and practice!
- Danielle Parker