Re: Five Minutes/day

["Gordon Graham" <ggraham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Every music instructor I have had (mostly guitar) has told me that regular
practice (20 minutes) each day (and at the same time each day)  is much
better than than hours of practice one day a week. I think the learning is
more mental than physical. The more often our brains are reminded of what we
are trying to learn the faster we develop those habits. My guess is that if
you sat down 5 minutes a day and imagined playing some part perfectly and
then practiced it for 35 minutes on the weekend you would accomplish the
same thing. This technique has been shown to work in sports such as
basketball (shooting free throws). My main practice these days comes in my
car in short spurts during my commute..and frankly I am surprised at how
fast I am learning new techniques. Not proof....just thoughts...

Gordon----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Nathanson" <blinknodyawn@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 7:51 AM
Subject: Re: Five Minutes/day


>
> However plausible a theory is, and however
> well-regarded its proponents, a theory is tested only
> by actually testing it.
>
> What's the evidence that five minutes works?
>
> We all agree that regular practice is best, and I
> believe most teachers would prefer "regular" to
> "lengthy." The key here is really the five minutes.
>
> During the workweek I put in a daily 10 minutes. It's
> 10 determined and heartfelt minutes where I go after
> whatever bothers me most about my playing. I can't
> begin to pretend that this sip of practice time takes
> me anywhere new. It's maintenance, to keep me from
> sliding, and barely adequate.
>
> So what's your experience with this technique? Whom
> has it worked for? And what exactly is the claim? Is
> it that five minutes a day is better than 35 minutes
> once a week? Is it that five minutes a day is better
> than an hour once a week? Or is the claim simply that
> it's better than nothing?
>
> Ben Nathanson
>
>
>
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