Make a To Do List, Set Some Goals and Focus

How to start making progress again.

It happens to the best of us. We're learning songs, working on technique, feel like we're getting somewhere, and then we hit the proverbial brick wall! We seem to be getting worse instead of better, our motivation's taken a serious hit, and we're starting to wonder if this is as good as we'll ever be able to play. I see and hear this from my students all the time, and experience it myself too.

First things first, take a break.

It sounds wrong, but sometimes the best thing you can do is walk away.  Take a few days or even a week or so and just do something else. My feeling is that we still practice in our subconscious mind, and taking a break is the same as going on vacation and not thinking about work. I've quit playing and working on a song and actually been able to play it better after leaving it alone for a while.

Make a to do list.

Record yourself, listen to how you sound, and make a to do list of things to work on. We're all our own worst critics, so be critical and write out exactly what was good and what needed improvement.

Set some goals for yourself.

After you've listened and critiqued yourself, set a deadline. Decide you'll master what you're working on, and hold yourself accountable. Be realistic and reasonable, but be hard on yourself as well. With a specific time frame in mind, your motivation will definitely improve.

Focus.

Now that you have the to do list and goals in place, work on being in focus. It's way too easy to get distracted, let your mind wander, and play things that are easier and more comfortable. Set a timer and use that as a way to give the song your undivided attention. Work on difficult passages, smooth out the rough parts, and again, record yourself. It's hard to hear progress from day to day, so a recording is a good way to judge where you are and where you still need to be.