Progress: straight line or postage stamp?

[oski79]

I've been wondering about this for some time. I've generally taken the view that with practice my progress as a classical guitarist should be fairly gradual and consistent. But I know it's not. I know there are periods of time when I don't seem to make much, then times when I seem to suddenly "get" something and it's a big jump. (This is the reference to "postage stamp." When you go from one ounce to two, the postage jumps. There's no gradation for 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 ounces--so the graph looks like a stairstep.)

A couple of weeks ago as some of you know, and as several of you also did, I had the pleasure of private lessons with Maximo Diego Pujol and Victor Villadangos, two of my favorite CG figures. When I got back home I started working on a few of new pieces, mostly from Pujol's preludes 8-14, and an arrangement of Buenos Aires Hora Cero that Victor gave me. It seems to me I've picked these pieces up much, much quicker than past pieces. I've come up with a couple of thoughts:

1. Maybe I've just gotten "in tune" with MDP's music. The etudes aren't particularly technically difficult, but some of the rythmns and specific techniques can be tricky to learn. I know that's been a bit of a stumbling block in the past. Perhaps three days of listening intently has ingrained the tango, milonga, etc. rythmns in my head to a point where I don't have to work so hard to get into the swing of them.

2. I know I came back from the festival totally jazzed to learn and play. The energy and enthusiasm I've brought to practice sessions certainly has a lot to do with the progress I've made. Will it wear off, and when it does, will I find my progress kind of leveling off? I'd guess, yeah, probably.

3. Maybe I've just reached a point where mytechnique has become solid enough and I know the fretboard well enough that the speed at which I can read and learn has accelerated noticably?

I'm probably overthinking this, which is something I'm rarely if ever accused of. Really, I've just been enjoying the last few weeks of practice. I'm curious if any of you who are teachers, performers, or more experienced players than I have any thoughts.

Thanks...

[Chris Davis]

I think you're right on when it comes to the steps. I've written about it before, but my thoughts on it have changed a bit. There are still those big jumps, but the spaces between them are not a lack of progress, just more gradual improvement.

There's been a few times in my playing where everything has just jumped forward. The first two years of playing CG were great: continual improvement week to week. Then my next really big jump came two years later during my first semester of grad school. And I feel like I'm in the middle of another big jump right now. To give you an idea: When I learned the Bennett Impromptus last semester it took about a month to get them to a concert ready state. For me, that's a bit ridiculous. I've always had to spend a ton of time on things. Now I'm learn a big piece by Malcolm Arnold that's coming together very fast as well.

Most of the improvements I've made can be traced back to learn to practice. When I started CG, it was like learning a whole new style of strict (time-wise) practicing. The focus wasn't there and I wasn't terribly efficient in the practice room. So my three hours/day took me pretty far until I needed to change the game. Unfortunately, I didn't know how so improvements came slower for the next few years (even the big jumps were smaller). During my first semester studying with Dr. Yates, we talked a ton about practicing and technique. And as I incorporated those ideas (most of which are on my blog), my practicing got more efficient and I was able to make another big jump. Now that I've been practicing in detail and efficiently for a few years, it's started to catch up in how I'm able to learn pieces. Another big jump on the way.

Anyway, the longer I do this, the more I think we're not really learning guitar. Sure there are some technical and musical things that we have to work out--that we have to train our fingers and body to do. But a lot of what we're actually learning is how to practice. How to draw on the knowledge and things we've done before to become more efficient and effective at learning music.

[oski79]

But a lot of what we're actually learning is how to practice. How to draw on the knowledge and things we've done before to become more efficient and effective at learning music.

Thanks, Chris. That makes a lot of sense.

[Nick Cutroneo]

I'll say this, most of my instruction is showing students how to practice. I want the students to be able to work at home and not hit major walls of frustration. Obviously some of that cannot be avoided, but it is my job to help guide students through the harder time of practicing and playing. It is important for the student to understand that there will be moments where they may feel they are making little to no progress. It is during these times that we must re-assess how the practicing is working and what we can do to improve ourselves. Often times students don't like this, it is almost like a small therapy session. But it always ends in the student making a huge jump in their playing.

[terpfan]

progress is never a straight line. months will go by without really noticing any progress, then suddenly some breakthrough happens. it will take about ten years to really master the instrument. for beginners, you could practice hours everyday, but if you miss one day, you will set back for a week. when you have many many miles under your belt, you could stop playing for years, and go back to your peak (technique wise) in a week.

[Sean]

I agree; progress never goes in straight lines. Only the ever-increasing price of postage stamps does that.

[bacsidoan]

We live in a quantum universe, not a continuum. Call it quantum musicality