[05/21, 10:43] In designing our practicing for optimal learning, consider the following. What are we aiming to improve? Particular violinistic skills, for sure. Those can be conveniently grouped into the Seven Basics of violin technique: lifting/dropping of fingers; shifting; vibrato; legato; detache; martele; bouncing strokes. Ideally, our practicing should be designed to address each one of these regularly. Etudes and exercises should be chosen accordingly.
But developing such skills/techniques optimally depends on developing capabilities like Awareness. Dexterity. Sensitivity. Flexibility. Suppleness. Balance. Endurance. Strength. Etc.
Our focus when practicing should continuously include these as the larger frames within which we develop specific violin playing skills.
[05/21, 10:4] Here is my working list (rules of thumb) for tackling specific problems/challenges:
1. Isolate the passage
2. Unravel (zoom in until the specific spot is identified)
3. Analyze (what needs to happen? What prevents it? What are the mechanics? What are the elements involved? How can more information be gathered? Etc.)
4. Frame (what kind of problem is it? What kinds of solutions are required? it a shifting problem? a note grouping problem? a pattern problem? measurement problem? speed problem? What way of thinking might help? Etc.)
5. Slowly
6. Softly
7. Lightly
8. Variety (in many different ways)
9. Movement (including micro-movements to stimulate sensation)
10. Repeat (the correct version enough to become automatic)
11. Focus on results rather than process for best feedback
12. Interleave with other passages or repertoire to focus on.
13. Reassemble and repeat sufficiently
14. Test in context and repeat sufficiently
[05/21, 10:48] Piet Koornhof: I will share my rationale for it soon…
My rules of thumb for problem solving when practicing are based on this (partly):
Attention is limited. Attention focused somewhere is not available elsewhere. Therefore we have to decide and control where our attention is focused.
Weber-Fechner Law, which states that the stronger sensory stimuli are, the greater the differences have to be for the human nervous system to detect them. Conversely, the smaller sensory stimuli are, the smaller are the differences detectable by the human nervous system. Therefore, in order to make finer distinctions it is useful to lower the sensory stimuli received.
Law of Requisite Variety, which states that variety is required to control variety. The more ways in which we tackle a problem, the greater our chances of success.
Sensation requires movement. Sensation is news of difference. Movement is necessary for generating differences.
Research has shown that: "varied practice" (doing something in different ways) beats "blocked practice" (doing the same thing in the same way over and over); "Interleaved practice" (alternating different challenges being worked on) also beats blocked practice; focusing of attention on results of actions gets better results than focusing on the process of doing the actions.
But developing such skills/techniques optimally depends on developing capabilities like Awareness. Dexterity. Sensitivity. Flexibility. Suppleness. Balance. Endurance. Strength. Etc.
Our focus when practicing should continuously include these as the larger frames within which we develop specific violin playing skills.
[05/21, 10:4] Here is my working list (rules of thumb) for tackling specific problems/challenges:
1. Isolate the passage
2. Unravel (zoom in until the specific spot is identified)
3. Analyze (what needs to happen? What prevents it? What are the mechanics? What are the elements involved? How can more information be gathered? Etc.)
4. Frame (what kind of problem is it? What kinds of solutions are required? it a shifting problem? a note grouping problem? a pattern problem? measurement problem? speed problem? What way of thinking might help? Etc.)
5. Slowly
6. Softly
7. Lightly
8. Variety (in many different ways)
9. Movement (including micro-movements to stimulate sensation)
10. Repeat (the correct version enough to become automatic)
11. Focus on results rather than process for best feedback
12. Interleave with other passages or repertoire to focus on.
13. Reassemble and repeat sufficiently
14. Test in context and repeat sufficiently
[05/21, 10:48] Piet Koornhof: I will share my rationale for it soon…
My rules of thumb for problem solving when practicing are based on this (partly):
Attention is limited. Attention focused somewhere is not available elsewhere. Therefore we have to decide and control where our attention is focused.
Weber-Fechner Law, which states that the stronger sensory stimuli are, the greater the differences have to be for the human nervous system to detect them. Conversely, the smaller sensory stimuli are, the smaller are the differences detectable by the human nervous system. Therefore, in order to make finer distinctions it is useful to lower the sensory stimuli received.
Law of Requisite Variety, which states that variety is required to control variety. The more ways in which we tackle a problem, the greater our chances of success.
Sensation requires movement. Sensation is news of difference. Movement is necessary for generating differences.
Research has shown that: "varied practice" (doing something in different ways) beats "blocked practice" (doing the same thing in the same way over and over); "Interleaved practice" (alternating different challenges being worked on) also beats blocked practice; focusing of attention on results of actions gets better results than focusing on the process of doing the actions.
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