If You Can’t Track It, You Can’t Improve It
Humans are masters of pattern recognition. It’s how we have managed to not only survive as a species, but thrive. Being able to accurately gauge the world, and how to most effectively shape it around you, is what allows you to achieve the life that you want. The more efficiently you affect your world, the quicker that the world you want comes to be.
It is no different when it comes to learning the guitar. Do you want to improve the speed at which you play? There are many questions to ask:
How much speed are you looking to gain?
What is the best way to achieve the speed desired?
If there are multiple options for building speed, is one more effective than the rest?
Once you have been practicing for speed for a while, has your plan achieved your desired result?
There is only one way to determine the answer to these questions without guessing: tracking your progress.
If you are working on building your speed, write down the current speed at which you can play the passage you want to improve. Then, after practicing, record the newest time.
Did you gain the speed that you were hoping?
How long did it take to reach that goal?
Are there other practicing routines that you have tested that increased your speed further, and in a shorter amount of time?
When it comes to mastering any skill, efficiency is everything. The quicker you become proficient at some aspect of playing, the quicker you can improve on it and move on to adding more skills to your arsenal. Track your progress, with actual numbers (not by feel) and watch your progress rocket off like never before.
Play Loud. Be Heard.
Gavin F. Haley
Headmaster
Apex Guitar Institute
