Chapter 1:
A person will most effectively improve in a skill if they can practice deeply. Like Brazilian soccer players, this involves finding a sweet spot, or practicing in a way so that the most difficult and important skills are condensed. The best performers work on challenging sections until they get them right. They don’t let themselves solidify any habit that is not worth keeping. The best kind of practice consists of recall and an empathy toward failure. Once a person can combine these attributes, they will be most able to grow in their skill.
Application:
I need to plan my own practice in a way that results in deeper learning. I will be more effective if I can set goals and make plans to achieve them while still having sympathy with myself during the learning process. As a voice teacher, I will demonstrate principles of deep learning in my lessons, and help the students develop plans to practice in similar ways so that they can best improve.
Summary:
Myelin is the key to improving our skill. Repeated mistake-focused practice begins the process of wrapping myelin along the nerve fibers that are necessary for our success. This process of wrapping takes a long time, so it takes consistent effort and practice done in an accurate way. Otherwise, the neurological pathways will be created in the incorrect fashions and it will be hard to refocus the myelin sheath. You must struggle in order for the brain to fire in the ways it needs to wrap the myelin and build the habits.
Application:
Being conscious of myelin firings can help me practice more effectively. Engaging in deep practice and using memory recall will help trigger wrapping of the myelin sheath in my brain. I need to focus on small, problematic sections of the music until I can consistently execute them perfectly. If I am able to do this, I will build skills that will be healthy and long-lasting. Once I am comfortable with this pattern, I will be able to pass on this pattern to students that I teach.
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