Everyone Can Learn: CONSISTENCY

Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently - Marie Forleo

Children thrive off of routines and schedules. Knowing what to expect and what is going to happen next provides safety and security. But not just for kids... developing routines, schedules, systems and habits can provide security, productivity, fulfillment and even a greater sense of happiness and purpose to those of all ages. When we are consistent, we are progressively working toward something. Whether this is developing a healthier lifestyle, a practice schedule, working to pay off debt, potty training, etc. It all comes down to consistency. Until we are consistent, we are unable to evaluate what is working and what is not. Until we are consistent, we are unable to grow. 

When we are trying out new routines and schedules with young kids it can be discouraging when things don't go according to plan. They might argue and resist, act out or refuse. But until we are consistent, they don't know that we mean business. Until we are consistent, they don't know that this isn't going away. Until we are consistent, they aren't given a chance to understand. 

                        You should only practice on the days you eat - Shinichi Suzuki

We can be consistent in practice by setting a schedule.

Set a schedule for practice and then commit to it - but be realistic. If you have committed to practicing everyday at 5:00, but three days out of the week it is a real struggle to make it work, then acknowledge that. Brainstorm another way. Maybe try a different time of day or shift the expectation for that day, and  then keep going. Being consistent doesn't mean you can't be flexible. Being consistent means that when it doesn't work out the first time, or the 50th time, we still continue to try, one small step at a time.

            It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop - Confucius

We can be consistent in practice by developing a routine.

The biggest time waster with practice is not knowing what to practice. Practice should consist of the following blocks: a warm-up, review, technique, run through of your working piece and repetition chunks of small spots. Lastly, you can end practice with anything else fun you want to play! Other then the warm-up, you can put these blocks in any order you like. If you can consistently follow an order or routine to your practice, you'll spend less time wondering what you should be working on and more time practicing (in the end either making your practice shorter, or just that much more productive!). Once you've developed a routine, it's okay to be flexible and shake things up every now and then. Maybe you'll discover a new way to practice that you like better! Until we are consistent with one routine though, we have nothing to compare an alternative routine to. 

    If you are persistent you will get it. If you are consistent you will keep it - Anonymous

We can be consistent in practice by practicing smarter, not harder.

Place importance on the amount of focus there is during practice rather than the amount of time. Understanding that a few minutes everyday is far better than hours on just 1 or 2 days. Don't be discouraged by practice when it's hard! When something is hard, it just means we have A LOT to learn. Stop and brainstorm how you can break the problem down into more manageable chunks or ask your teacher for help. Repetitions of these small chunks are key to progress, but they can also hinder us if we are not consistent. If we repeat without focus and with mistakes, then we aren't progressing. If we can slowly and consistently repeat with focus and accuracy, we will progress. 

It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently - Tony Robbins

We can be consistent when it comes to practice by having a positive attitude and a growth mindset. 

Knowing WHY we are practicing can help put us in the right attitude to practice. Our WHY could be wanting to learn a certain piece, or get to a certain book. Maybe it's learning a new technique or being able to play with beautiful tone or working toward the next recital. Maybe it's simply the journey of learning something new. Sometimes a positive attitude in practice can get blocked when we are frustrated or feel like we aren't progressing. Having a growth mindset and understanding that our abilities aren't limited can help us through these inevitable struggles. When we have a growth mindset we can be a detective and look at environmental factors, our level of consistency and if maybe we just need more time before we see progress (which brings me to my last concept for this practice series... coming soon!)