The Secret to Smarter Practice: It's All in Your Brain!
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
We've all been there – staring at our instrument, feeling overwhelmed by everything there is to learn. You might think that practice is something to squeeze in only when you have hours free, or even worse, something to avoid when you're short on time. But what if I told you there's a smarter way to practice, one that actually changes your brain and makes learning faster and more effective?
It all comes down to something called dendrites. Think of your brain cells (neurons) as individual musicians. When you learn something new – like a scale or a chord – these neurons start trying to communicate. Consistent practice, especially within a 48-hour window, helps these neurons grow tiny, branching connections called dendrites.
This is the reason behind the practice for 5 or 6 days a week. So next time you don’t want to, have not got time to, or just forgot - remember the dendrites need water and exercise just like you do, your pet does, or your houseplants do. Your practice provides energy for living connections to grow and develop making you smarter, skilled and able to reproduce whatever you do repeatedly.
That last line is very important “whatever you do repeatedly.”
If you repeatedly forget and get out of practice - you get better at that
If you keep rushing and making mistakes - you get better at rushing and making mistakes
If you focus and correct, and try hard - you get better at focusing and trying hard
If you practise every day - you get better at practising every day.
It is that simple.
What do you want to achieve?
Adjust your actions today to make that happen.
Practice SMART, not chaotic.
Plan your practise to be
Specific, state clearly what needs to be accomplished, by whom, and what the results will be. Write it in your practice journal.
Measurable, define the indicator for mission accomplished. Write this down too.
Achievable, be realistic, what can you actually attain within the given constraints of time.
Relevant, how does this affect your overall personal ambitions and contributes to the lesson goals. If your teacher has not made the goal clear, ask them.
Time-Bound, usually practise aims for the next lesson, but some tutors run fortnightly or monthly cycles, always ask your teacher the time goal as well as the weekly goal.
This way you start to achieve an effective practice habit that can be repeated week on week.
Ask you tutor for guidance from the Grow section in the TQ programme.
Author's note.
This article's reflection on effective and SMART practice was inspired by a video by Dr. Lila Landowski. While the video beautifully illustrates how neurons form physical connections, Dr. Landowski notes that the process for learning and memory is different. Learning creates thousands of tiny connections, called synapses, along a neuron's dendrites.
This means the process is not about a single dramatic connection, but rather the consistent, small-scale growth of a vast network. Therefore, effective practice must be similarly focused and regular to allow these tiny, yet vital, connections to grow and strengthen into new skills. This is the scientific basis for the SMART practice method.
References
Glossary of Key Terms
Neurons: Individual brain cells that process and transmit information through electrical and chemical signals.
Dendrites: Tiny, branching connections that grow from neurons, facilitating communication between brain cells and strengthening neural pathways with consistent practice.
Synapses: Microscopic gaps between neurons where nerve impulses are transmitted. Learning and memory involve the creation of thousands of these tiny connections along a neuron's dendrites.
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, allowing it to adapt, learn, and recover from injury.
48-Hour Window: The critical timeframe within which consistent practice is most effective for stimulating dendrite growth and strengthening neural connections.
SMART Practice: An acronym representing a goal-setting framework that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound, designed to make practice more effective and focused.
Specific (SMART): Clearly defined practice goals, detailing what needs to be accomplished, by whom, and the expected results.
Measurable (SMART): Practice goals that include quantifiable indicators to determine when the goal has been achieved.
Achievable (SMART): Realistic practice goals that can be attained within given constraints of time and ability.
Relevant (SMART): Practice goals that align with overall personal ambitions and contribute to broader learning objectives.
Time-Bound (SMART): Practice goals with a defined deadline or timeframe for completion.
TQ Programme: An educational programme mentioned in the article, with a "Grow" section suggested for tutor guidance.
