Lately I’ve been reading The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right. I’m working on a simple, yet effective practice checklist. Here’s the first draft:
| Pre-Flight | In-Flight | Post-Flight |
| Have your supplies and materials. (music,pencil,rosin, metronome, tuner, etc) Prepare to play. Eliminate distractions Clear your mind |
WARMUP – clear your mind and play slow easy warmups. Use a warmup that relates to your playing and repertoire.
CHECK POSITION – PLAN – Pick a small section OUTCOME – Decide on the results PLAY – Observe results SOLVE – Create a course of action or correction EXECUTE SOLUTION |
EVALUATE – was the mission accomplished Are there new skills that need acquiring? Put these into future warmups.
DECIDE if material was learned well enough or if it needs to be a part of next session CHOOSE music for next session CLEAN instrument SMILE – you just practiced! |
Hi Peter, I think you’ve got all the right elements in there which is good to see. I’m not quite sure of order or placement though.
For instance should warm-up perhaps be in In-Flight (depends on definition and what you do in warm-up). Moving it to In-flight might make it a more active process rather than simply going through the motions?
Also perhaps Evaluate needs to go to Post-flight? With ‘Observe Results’ becoming a more prominent feature of In-Flight?
Just some thoughts – everyone will have a different plan. Even having a plan is better than 80% of people!
Great comments!! here’s draft 2…