Closing the capability/Doing Gap (part two)

Last time, I wrote about how we as educators are consistently seeking new ways to close the "Knowing/Doing" gap for our students. Are they performing at or above "grade level"? For those who are not, we seek to think out of the box to reveal new strategies to help close that gap. My belief as a guitar instructor is that many guitar learners sell themselves short and fail to realize their true potential as a player. For most players (myself included) our capabilities far exceed our performance. We often settle for "good enough". We tell ourselves, our mistakes are acceptable because most people other than ourselves will not even realize a mistake has been made. My question to you oh "learners of the strings", can you look yourself in  the mirror everyday and feel good that you may be only half as good as you could be? If not, then read on, for I have a plan. What can we do to close that gap and realize our true potential?

1. Be selfish with your practice time: ​Allot a set practice time daily. It doesn't have to be the same time everyday but at least have a dedicated time in each day set aside for serious guitar practice. Be selfish with that time and try not to let anything interfere. This time is set aside for you to practice new skills your instructor has presented you that will expand your playing to a whole new level.
2. Seek others who play better than you: Play with as many people as you can find as often as possible. When you see them do something you don't yet know. Make them show you, then practice it over and over until you can comfortably "noodle" while sitting around.
3. Become obsessed:  Notice I said "obsessed" and not "possessed" There is a difference. My wife often tells me I have an obsessive personality. She says I am constantly competing with myself whether it is counting calories, academics when I was in grad school, construction projects on our home or playing guitar. I tell her that I am so afraid of failure that I feel as though I have to be obsessed to be successed. That's an exaggerated analogy I know; however, in reality, that's kind of true. If you want something in life, whether it is to be the best guitar player you can be or the best construction worker you can be, the best and most sure way of accomplishing it, is to become competitive with yourself. Can you go to bed each night and truthfully say, I'm better tonight than I was this morning. Can you look yourself in the mirror the next morning and truthfully say. " I will be better today than I was last night? Am I playing up to my capability? 

Honestly, I don't think any of us, not even the great blues guitarist Eric Clapton, plays up to his ability; however, we do get as good as we are willing to work to become until one day you say to yourself, "my level of playing is acceptable to me. I don't want to get any better than I am currently". Really? You don't want to get better? Hogwash! Of course you do 

Let me show you how. Register for your free consultation here and let's get started.
Make it happen
Mike