Practice as Self-Exploration

Abstract

Musical practice is often regarded as a yoke you just have to carry if you want to sing or play an instrument well. Admittedly, to a certain extent it is: many a pupil has complained how dull it is! Perhaps this somewhat limited view has influenced the point of departure of much research on musical practice as a specific way of learning. It is thereby defined as an activity quite similar or even identical to physical training; the scientific methods sometimes seem rather behaviouristic, and the results? Musicians, presumably the experts in this field, have anyhow taken little notice.But does practice have to be dull? Is, perhaps, rather the player being dull when practicing? Could it be that we need to extend our scope, and that practice may even develop into a deeply rewarding activity? This is what I set out to investigate years ago, my original point of departure being my own practicing – and my attempts at teaching it.