Getting better at something doesn’t always require adding skills or knowledge.
You can become a better musician by changing how you spend your time, instead of practicing more hours.
The single most important thing you can do to improve your musicianship doesn’t involve adding any new skills.
Socrates said, “Know thyself.”
- Record yourself
- Listen back
- Note any unforced errors, and then reduce them.
How it Works
When you’re playing, you only hear what you sound like partly. When you listen back, you perceive something closer to what you actually sound like.
When you hear unforced errors in your recordings, make a note to refrain from them in the future.
-If you hear yourself using the same lick over and over again, make a note to limit it.
-If you always play flat in third position, make a note of it.
-Notice your rhythm. Do you rush or drag? Notice it and then change it.
By becoming aware of unconscious habits and actively rooting them out, you’ll improve, and as you continue to listen to recordings, you will see that progress.
Identify and stop bad habits and you’ll become twice the musician you are today.
You can “keep score” of many aspects of your playing, from timing, tone, phrasing, et al…
One fun way to record yourself in real time is by using loop pedals like in this video.
If you regularly listen to recordings of yourself, you will quickly see improvement in your playing.
If you’re interested in accelerating your musical growth, there’s no substituting the support and accountability you can get from a private teacher.
You can take a free private lesson with me when you sign up for a trial of my online Zoom gym. Even One lesson can put you on a straighter path to your goals.
Related: “How to Use Looping and Loop Pedals to Practice, Perform, Teach, and Improve Musicianship.”
