Defining Your Bottom Line
Welcome back! The busiest time of year for just about everyone (especially musicians!) is about to come to a close! What a great time to talk about practice!
As I outlined in the introduction ( ), this entry will include how to find your bottom line and thoughts on creating a practice routine and space that best serves your needs.
So, what is our bottom line? I like to think of it as our base level of technique. That might include only two or a whole bagful of techniques that you can do really well, on command, any time of day. This is going to be different for each of us obviously depending on playing level and experience, but more uniquely, our bottom line will differ based on our independent learning styles and a whole world of traits that makes us individuals.
We are going to start with a small exercise to define our bottom line. Divide a blank sheet of paper into two parts. The left side will be a list of skills you excel at and the right a list of skills that need improvement. I labeled mine with a check mark and a heart – shorthand for “sounds great” and “needs love”. This exercise will be all about attitude so positive titles are key - of course, you can change your titles to something even more relevant to you! Just make it fun!
On the left side, list out the skills that you can do any time of day, on command, with complete comfort. Start by writing down broad ideas like ‘C Major’ or ‘Shifting’. Feel free to get more detailed as you become more comfortable. Once you complete this side of your list, start the opposite side.
We are going to create the improvement list by building upon the tasks you excel at (listed on the left). Take each task apart and think about the variations and demands of this skill. If you listed C Major, determine whether you can recall and perform each related arpeggio without a second thought. If you can’t, write it down! We are looking for details of the chosen skill that are not thoroughly comfortable. Be very specific on things you can improve within each of your skills.
Remember to keep your ideas broad at first. The lists may vary in length, but you want to have at least 4 items on each side. You will most likely have a heavier 'improvement' list and that is perfectly natural. My first attempt at this exercise yielded a very brief list on the left side and much more detailed on the right:
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The purpose of creating a list of improvement from mastered skills allows a positive spin on the areas that need attention and makes those areas of improvement within reaching distance. Additionally, we are building upon your base technique; we truly are raising the bottom line by moving just an inch above the skills you are comfortable with.
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Alright, so you have your list of improvements and you are ready to start putting them into practice! This next section is going to focus on how to turn your improvement items into achievable goals. I suggest picking one of your improvement items and applying a planning method to that specific goal. Once you find a planning method that works for you, feel free to apply that method to multiple goals at a time!
Even if you don't consider yourself a planner, I strongly believe that making a plan will help you reach your goal. There are so many great ways to make a plan; listed below are some of my suggestions for both long term and daily goal planning. These are ideas that I know work for me so, don't feel pressured to only use these ideas!
A. Bubble Diagram – The classic big idea approach! Start by creating a large circle around your goal and surround with smaller circles/ideas on how to reach that goal. This method is typically for long term planning.
B. Sequential List – Create a progressive list of how you will get to your goal. This list could get very specific (i.e. day-to-day planning) but I see it working better as a long term planning method by moving through smaller goals to reach the end result.
C. Dated Schedule – Mark your calendar days with specific goals. The goals can be listed daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also write a timeline with dates for your goals. This method could work well on a daily and long-term level.
D. Practice Journal – My personal favorite! Write down your practice session plan – this could be in the form of a list – before you practice. I typically date each entry. Jot down any ideas or deviations from the plan during and after practice. This method is great for daily planning and always encourages me to write out my next session plan!
As I stated earlier, these are ideas that have proven useful to me. Feel free to use your own planning method if you already have a successful one. However, if you do not plan your practice at all I highly, highly encourage you to try one of these simple methods!
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*My pocket-sized practice journal and a recent journal excerpt. I like to keep my entries concise and use my own short-hand/abbreviations. Your practice entry should be specific but also shouldnt take more than a few minutes to notate.
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You may have noticed that I use the words practice space instead of practice room. I say this because your practice sessions will happen in many different places, as they should, over the course of your career. Your practice space should also be a place that changes to serve your practice needs and goals. I like to determine my practice space by the kind of practice session planned. There is no set type-list of practice sessions, but just to get your ideas rolling, here is a short list of sessions I encounter most and what kind of practice space I desire for each:
1. Detailing or “Nitty-Gritty” Session – I have very specific exercises and passages picked out and I know the metronome, tuner, drone is going to be on the whole time. I require somewhere quiet and free from distraction.
2. Performance Practice - I am focused on running through and performing at my highest level. I also set aside time to practice messing up and getting back on board. I want a space where I can hear myself very honestly. I don’t mind visual or auditory distractions because I want to prepare for that in performance.
3. Touch-up/Warm up – Usually happens 30-45 minutes before a performance or rehearsal. I have relevant warm-ups, exercises, and passages to touch on in mind. I never get the space I want, but I prefer somewhere quiet and free from distraction.
4. Long Practice - I have this session STACKED with passages to learn and refine, time set aside for scale detailing, and relevant etudes! This practice space needs to have lots of room for me to spread out and a place for me to step outside or away from the space.
5. Short Practice – For me, this is a 1 or 2 hour session. My journal has warm-ups, a relevant etude or exercise, and specific passages marked. I require a place free from distraction and a clock!
Take some time to think about the types of practice sessions you have planned out for this week - or even today. What environment is going to make you the most successful?
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So now you are equipped with your unique bottom line, a plan on how to raise that bottom line, and a great practice space to work in! The ideas we talked about in this entry are pretty large so, try to incorporate them one at a time.
I suggest you start by picking one of your improvement items and experiment with focusing on that skill during practice. Make a plan for that skill and notice your practice space. Once this process becomes familiar, apply it to other improvement items on your list!
Feel free to re-evaluate your bottom line every few weeks or when you reach a new goal. As I continue my posts, we will explore exercises for warming-up, scales, and other practice essentials that you can trial and apply to your unique bottom line!
Thanks for joining me and as always, please contact me with any questions or successes you have!
All the best,
Rachael
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Making a Practice Plan
Your Practice Space
Wrap-up
