How Practice Makes Perfect

After hearing some of the TREMENDOUS improvement of some of my voice students this week, I am reminded of the saying "Practice Makes Perfect." 

This isn't QUITE true.  It really should be "SMART, GOAL-ORIENTED practice makes perfect."  Far less catchy to say, but more true.

As a voice teacher, my primary responsibility is to give my students songs and exercises that will accelerate their development as singers.  When my singers have a goal in mind, and then use the certain exercises to work towards that goal, it is amazing how much they can accomplish in a week, let along a month or semester.

Studies have shown that what we think of as talent is simply hard-work, goal-driven practice over a long period of time.  Michael Jordan practiced basketball in his backyard - and did not even make his school's varsity team! - YEARS before he was noticed in college.  Mozart was driven to be a great pianist by his father, a professional musician who believed his son could be one of the greats.  While these and other famous prodigies probably do have some inherent genetic advantages (slightly faster muscles, a mind attuned to music), the fact is 90% of our results is based on the practicing we did beforehand.

DWS