Why We Don’t Do What Works: Practice Tips Our Brains Like but We Avoid (66855)

Session Information: Teaching Experiences, Pedagogy, Practice & Praxis (Workshop)

Saturday, January 7, 2023 (12:50)
Session: Session 3
Room: 322B
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation

All presentation times are UTC-10 (Pacific/Honolulu)

Our brains learn most efficiently with specific practice habits, but research shows we naturally avoid some of them. How to help students learn and practice in effective ways that really work, are explored in this workshop. The author has successfully utilized the practice strategy, ‘Hardest First,’ in group and private lessons. Grounded in sports research, the author-created strategy is based on ice skaters practicing many easier moves rather than the intended, difficult moves. Surprisingly, the ice skaters remembered practicing more repetitions of difficult moves (Deakon, 2003). Do musicians fall into the same trap: believing they spend more time on difficult areas, but in reality spend more time on easier sections? Cognitive and sports psychologists also recommend learning most efficiently via interleaved practice – returning frequently to an activity rather than extended, blocked practice. Most musicians intuitively use blocked practice. Recent music research indicates that Interleaved practice schedules are more effective than blocked practice (Carter & Grahn 2016). Again surprisingly, research demonstrated that performers, even after given their higher marks with interleaved practice, preferred blocked practice. Why do musicians avoid doing what really works? Our own natural resistance (Pressfield, 2002) and negativity bias (Baumeister, Finkenauer, Vohs, 2001) will be explored as explanations for avoidance of what is most effective.Useful tips for incorporating practice ideas that really work because our brains find them most efficient, such as ‘Hardest First,’ and interleaved practice, will be shared. The presenter has actively employed these strategies into teaching both private lessons and group piano classes.

Authors:
Barbara Fast, University of Oklahoma, United States


About the Presenter(s)
Dr Barbara Fast is a Professor of Music at University of Oklahoma, United States

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Posted by Clive Staples Lewis

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00