Practice makes perfect.
Practice makes permanent.
Practice makes permanent.
By definition, we practice the things we can’t yet do.
Which means we spend the majority of our time doing it wrong.
If practice really made permanent, then no one would ever get any better. It’s a paradox.
So what’s going on in there?
Errors cue neuroplasticity. They tell your nervous system what needs improvement.
Without errors, the brain is not in a position to change itself.
But here’s the rub:
You can’t fix errors you don’t realize you’re making.
Undetected errors “grease the groove.” The second sled down the snowy hill is stuck in the track laid by the first sled.
Feedback makes us conscious of our errors.
The more conscious errors you make, the more plastic your brain becomes. When you do eventually get it right, your brain will reward itself and consolidate the good reps.
Errors are the way forward…
…but only when you can identify them as errors.
Undetected errors are dangerous.
Avoid them—when you’re playing at the edges of your ability, include feedback.
If there’s no feedback, it’s not practice.
Practice makes plastic.
Want concrete examples? Click here for ways to incorporate feedback into your practice.
