Excuse the slightly strange title for this post but it is the phrase from every music teacher's mouth. 'Practice makes perfect' a catchphrase so often used in the musical world that it becomes engraved into every musicians' concious. However Jim and I were discussing all of this. Practice helps yes, but can we ever get to being totally satisfied with our playing ability? An interesting question I hear you ask.
On most days, once I've taken a look at the huge pile of work I have to do and come to the conclusion I won't get any of it done, I pick up my guitar (or some drum sticks, or even a pad and paper) and play. Why? Simply because we (scientifically proven) get pleasure from playing music. The ability to play and listen to music releases certain chemicals in the brain resulting in the feeling of 'having fun' - if ya like. Practising though can drive us so close to insanity sometimes it is atleast a fraction unhealthy. Should we though just be satisfied with how good we are at playing? Should we stop practising because we hate it?
No. Is the correct answer to the question my friends. Practise is a fantastic thing because in short, it makes us better. There is no fancy way of putting it. Learning a scale, a chord, a sequence or a new rhythmic pattern or indeed whatever, is going to help you on that journey to getting better and better.
Take a quick thought now. Think of the first time you played your instrument, whatever it is. Think how terrible you were - how you had little concept of rhythm or pitch. Now look at what you can play. Maybe you're a great sweep picker, great improviser or a great rhythm. Nonetheless you've come a long way no doubt. And so you would never consider stopping practising once you've come all that way.
Here is the truth - practice doesn't make perfect - it just makes you better and better and better and better. There is no limit to your ability apart from yourself. Everytime you pick up that guitar (or any instrument for that matter) you improve. Even on days where everything you play sounds like a fat man falling down stairs choking on a sandwich. Those days you learn from mistakes. You can never be perfect at playing, and this is why music is amazing. Its not like completing a game. If you like, its as if you're playing an eternal never ending game. The only thing stopping you, is you.
So next time your teacher says to you 'practice makes perfect', tell them 'no it won't', because the awesome thing is never being perfect. Keep searching for that extra bit.
Practice is fun my friends! As is beer for that matter so I'm going for a cold one.
Peace, Linus
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