Minh and I have been learning drumset from a delightful book called, "New Breed". It contains an endless stream of coordination challenges. We continually face the question; "Should we do it again, or move on?"
How does one know when to move on?
The unsatisfying answer is, "When you feel like it". I think our emotions do a good job of integrating the plusses and minuses of continuing, in light of the end-goal and our current energy level. But even knowing this, I struggle to confidently follow my desires. So with the hopes of bolstering my and others' confidence, I'll detail the landscape of perfectionism, impatience, and task trustworthiness.
We can think about "moving on" from the perspective of risk. What happens if I move on too soon, or too late? Here are the risks of both.
Risks of moving on too quickly
- superficial practice. Practicing only the obvious parts of each challenge. Less time for subconscious improvements and hard-faught "aha!" moments.
- physical fluidity requires extensive repetition.
- no room for play. As an adult, I run the risk of aproaching music too "logically"; all goals and checkboxes. There should be plenty of play. Play often benefits from a bit of boredom.
Risk of staying too long on something
- calcifying bad habits. "Is continuing to practice this only solidifying my current skills?" Remember: Expertise is an adaptation.
- loss of interest. Indulging my perfectionism can kill my interest. Recognize the long-term risk... I might push through the drill today but not want to practice tomorrow. Enjoyment is necessary for long-term success.
With regards to drumming, how would you rate your perfectionism? Do you let yourself off the hook too easily, and thus want to be more of a perfectionist? Or do you hold yourself to a too-high standard that is intimidating and discouraging? And how would you rate your impatience? When faced with a challenge, do you enjoy repetition, or do you want to escape as soon as possible? Does it depend on the specific drill / instrument?
Last question. How much do you trust that what you're working on is relevant and proven?