Focused Practice vs Mindless Repetition

You've practiced that riff 100 times, but it still doesn't sound right. What's going on?

The answer is simple: You're repeating, not practicing.

The Difference

Mindless Repetition: Playing something over and over without attention to what's happening.

Focused Practice: Playing with intention, listening critically, and making adjustments.

Why Mindless Repetition Fails

When you play something repeatedly without focus, you're not learning—you're just reinforcing whatever you're already doing, mistakes and all. Your brain goes on autopilot, and improvement stalls.

The Autopilot Trap

Your brain loves efficiency. Once you've played something a few times, it creates a "program" to run automatically. This is great for performance, but terrible for practice. You stop noticing details, and mistakes become permanent.

What Focused Practice Looks Like

1. Set a Specific Goal

Before you start, ask: "What exactly am I trying to improve?"

• Is it timing?
• Tone quality?
• Hand position?
• Dynamics?
• Phrasing?

Be specific. "Make this sound better" isn't a goal. "Play this passage with consistent dynamics" is.

2. Record Yourself

This is non-negotiable. You can't hear what you're actually playing while you're playing it. Recording gives you objective feedback—the tape doesn't lie.

3. Listen Critically

After each take, ask:

• What sounded good?
• What needs work?
• What was different from the last take?

4. Make One Change at a Time

Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick one thing, focus on it, and only move on when you've made progress.

5. Slow Down

If you can't play it slowly and correctly, you can't play it fast. Speed is a byproduct of accuracy, not a goal in itself.

The Practice Loop

1. Play (with intention)
2. Record (capture the truth)
3. Listen (identify what needs work)
4. Adjust (make one specific change)
5. Repeat (until you see improvement)

Signs You're Practicing, Not Just Repeating

✅ You're making specific adjustments between takes
✅ You're noticing new details each time
✅ You're recording and comparing
✅ You're slowing down to work on accuracy
✅ You're feeling mentally engaged, not zoned out

Signs You're Just Repeating

❌ You're playing on autopilot
❌ You're not noticing mistakes until after you finish
❌ You're not making changes between attempts
❌ You're playing at full speed even when it's sloppy
❌ You're thinking about other things while playing

The 20-Minute Rule

If you've been working on something for 20 minutes and haven't made progress, stop. You're likely just repeating. Take a break, then come back with a fresh approach or a different focus.

Make Every Rep Count

Every repetition should teach you something. If it doesn't, you're wasting time. Practice with intention, record your progress, and watch your playing transform.

Remember: Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.