Comments on: Step Theory

By: Greg Arney

Greg Arney — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:00:37 +0000

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. However, instead of relating it to specific plateaus, I find my playing very much tends to “rest on laurels”– the initial period of learning is fueled by obsession and lots of practice, as well as a paradigm shift. Once I gain some confidence, I tend to revert to the safety of the comfort zone I have created for myself.

The solution I see to this is: (a) accept that I am not always able to notice progress in my playing, even when it is occuring; (b) list every category of my playing (repertoire, techniques, etc) and ask myself what I tend to over-play and what will be the most difficult and frustrating thing. For instance, I can sight-read single note melodies very comfortable in positions I – VI, but have a hard time in the upper positions because I haven’t had as much discipline and have “reverted” to comfortable areas.

By: Steve C

Steve C — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:03:38 +0000

Is that what I’m in, a plateau? Yes riding the wave in the steep improvements I had as a beginner was easy. Now it seems like “pushing sh*t up hill”! (an Aussie saying). I’m looking forward to that next random step.

By: Christopher Davis

Christopher Davis — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:48:19 +0000

Good points, Chuck. Thanks!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:07:22 +0000

The music is enough, for sure, but if I didn’t believe there was another step up somewhere in my future, I think I’d get pretty frustrated.

I think the random nature of the steps acts as a reinforcement. Studies show that consistent rewards are not as effective in modifying behavior as the random ones.