I just finished reading a fantastic book called Talent is Overrated:What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin. It it, he discusses what makes great performers and analyzes their practice methods in particular. It’s fascinating. I highly recommend it.

It really made me think about my own practice routines, and it seems, being New Year’s, a great time to be thinking about tightening that up and getting a bit more focused. In the book, he talks a lot about practice routines where people practice things outside of their actual activity. Football players weight training and running, for example. When I consider that, I realize that I don’t do so much of that stuff musically. I used to practice scales, arpeggios, and string crossing exercises and the like when I was younger, but as I got more experienced, I felt that was a waste of time. Sort of along the line of Yngwie’s famous quote, “why play scales when there’s such great music to play?”.

While I still agree with that, I have to make sure that my practice time is filled up with things that are difficult for me, and not merely playing what is not a challenge. Maybe the difference between running and jogging to make a running analogy.

I play usually about 2 hours in the morning before going to work, and that’s usually a mix of playing, listening, transcribing, gig prep, repertoire review and activities like that.

This book has really inspired me to take a look at my practice regimen and see where I could improve. Maybe that will be something compelling to blog about in 2009.

bentorrey :: Dec.31.2008 :: Books I Enjoy(ed)/Will Enjoy, Musical Thoughts, Practice :: No Comments »