Episode 12: From Stagnation to Mastery in Irish Fiddle Practice
In the latest episode of the Find Your Lilt Podcast, host Hannah Harris explores the concept of effective practice, particularly in traditional Irish fiddling. Inspired by the insightful book 'Peak' by K. Anders Ericsson and Robert Poole, Hannah shares her takeaways on the three forms of practice—naive, purposeful, and deliberate. Each type of practice comes with its own set of characteristics, advantages, and pitfalls that can significantly impact a musician's development.
Naive practice is a term coined to describe a common yet ineffective approach many musicians take when they embark on their learning journey. It often manifests as merely going through the motions without a structured plan or a critical eye on one's progress. Many musicians think that simply repeating a piece of music over and over will solidify their skills, but without intentionality, this process can lead to the entrenchment of bad habits rather than improvement. Hannah emphasizes that this passive way of practicing tends to create frustration, reflecting on her experiences and the challenges faced when the corrections are not made after numerous repetitions. She draws a helpful analogy to gym workouts, noting the importance of having a clear goal and structured practice rather than wandering from one exercise to another.
As we delve deeper, purposeful practice emerges as an intermediate level that requires focus, goal-setting, and actionable feedback. During a practice session characterized by this approach, musicians intentionally target specific areas for improvement rather than broadly attempting to play through complete pieces. For instance, rather than just repeatedly playing a tune, one would concentrate on executing it in perfect rhythm or isolating challenging passages until they can be played flawlessly. This method encourages self-assessment and may include seeking critique from peers or mentors, thereby developing a more holistic understanding of one's playing level.
At the highest tier sits deliberate practice, which combines the focused elements of purposeful practice and introduces new challenges that stretch a musician's boundaries. This segment contributes significantly to skill mastery, as it requires a commitment to improvement and engagement with complex musical concepts that can challenge players. Here, Hannah illustrates her points with relatable examples, suggesting the importance of recognizing interval patterns and melodic structures rather than memorizing every note. The aim is to develop mental representations of music, allowing musicians to learn and recall complex pieces more efficiently, which is essential in traditional Irish music sessions.
Hannah ends the episode with encouraging reflections on the practice paradigm, urging listeners to embrace deliberate practice even if they are not aspiring professionals. When approached with the right mindset, practicing can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, enhancing a musician's ability to express emotion and creativity through their music. By becoming cognizant of the different practice types and actively navigating through them, musicians can cultivate their skills, save time, and ultimately enjoy the process of mastering the real feel for Irish traditional music.
