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    As I was reading about all the different theories, stories, and accomplishments discussed in the book so far, I was very fascinated with how working with what you already know helps you become better. Even more so, however, I thought some of the crazy ideas, like the Link trainers and futsal, that people tried were very creative. In fact, they remind me of some of the techniques my own voice teacher, Laurie Hart, uses for me. For instance, she would have me do exercises that over-pushed me and then return to the regular singing position. Such exercises included resting on a yoga ball or singing a chunk of a song down the octave before going back to the original. Once we broke down the song and the techniques I learned by utilizing these tricks, it made it so much easier for me to apply the techniques and find my “sweet spot,” and I improved drastically!

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    The relation to myelin and skill was quite fascinating to me, and I hope to use it to my advantage. As I practice, I realize now that when I just run through the song, I am only reinforcing what I typically do while singing the song. Instead, I should practice more in chunks, so that when I get to that part of the song, I find it more naturally easy, because I have worked to develop that skill. I also liked that Coyle mentioned the 10,000 hour rule, and I totally believe that it works for making skills permanent. I never really liked the term “perfect practice,” because learning how to practice wisely takes time, and saying that practice should be done perfectly suggests that you have to be perfect right away, and it is impossible to be perfect right away. I suppose a more accurate way I have interpreted what I have taken away from this is that practice makes permanent, so practicing “perfect practice” makes perfect.