MUSIC AND YOUR BRAIN

In order to play music, our brains must operate in a more intricate way than is required of any other human activity.  This is because the two halves of the brain must operate in perfect synchronicity.

MUSIC IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE BRAIN TO LEARN THAN ANY SPORT OR ANY ACADEMIC SUBJECT!

The brain processes the learning of any motor skills at a very slow rate.  Physical learning is stored in the brain until the brain is ready to absorb it -- which does not begin to happen until SIX HOURS after the activity has stopped.  One cannot cram for either a lesson or a performance.  Last minute practicing will have no affect on the outcome.

The brain can only concentrate fully on a task for 10 to 20 minutes.  For productive lessons and productive practicing, one must take brief breaks every 10 to 20 minutes (perhaps to stretch, walk, converse, drink a glass of water, etc.).  Without the change of pace, the brain will lose its ability to focus and the time will be wasted.

Unless there is review and reinforcement, the brain will forget 70% to 90% of what is has learned within 48 hours.  The most important times to practice are the evening of your lesson and the next day. On the lesson day, the practice does not need to be lengthy -- just long enough to review the concepts that were taught and to practice key passages carefully.

Everything we do when we practice forms or strengthens a neural pathway.  Therefore, anything we do incorrectly  will form or strengthen an unwanted neural pathway .  When learning a new piece, it is far more efficient to practice slowly (with accurate notes, rhythms, and fingering) than to play faster with errors.   Once the piece is learned and we are practicing for musical expression, wrong notes need to be addressed, or those pesky neural pathways will not develop in the way we would like.

The results of Sam's MRI proved that piano lessons had effected his brain far more than anyone had realized!

Return to "How Much Should I Be Practicing"