It takes ten thousand hours to become an expert at something, so they say. Actually, that's a rather vague generalisation of the research results. Either way, its a long time. And its easy to imagine the aspiring musician carrying out a self-imposed duty: spending many lonely hours at a time alone in confined, sound-proofed room. Yet that really does not have to be the case. Practicing can be hugely enjoyable in its own right, if it is a thoughtful process and leads to clear results.
That is just one of many reasons why my music lessons are not merely 'guided rehearsals'. While I do spend time with students working through the aspects of technique and performance which they find most challenging, we also invent exercises, devise survival strategies and look for music which can help build skills and provide a sense of continual progress. I feel equally strongly about developing students' abilities to listen attentively, to appraise their own and others' performance, and build techniques for private practice which will help them meet their own expectations.
