Book Review: Learn Faster, Perform Better

Community Hub đź—¨ Just Chatting
1

Cross-post to my Learning Log. I recently read Dr. Gebrian’s book on practice strategies. My review is below

6 Likes
2

Thanks for this, Stuart. This book looks like a good reference guide for structuring practice. While I’m sure it reports many techniques we’re familiar with, you describe that she suggests applying different techniques for different learning situations and skill levels. That sound quite useful!

I’m curious: does Dr. Gebrian describe what is included when we count “practice time”? Specifically, does this include the time it takes to design goals for each practice session, keep the journal, and reflect at the beginning and end of each session? I currently struggle with defining how much time I practice - is it the 5 minutes of physical playing, or the 7-8 minutes it takes to transition into that exercise, execute it, and record it?

1 Like
3

This sounds most interesting! Thanks for the suggestion Stuart…I’ll check it soon!

1 Like
4

Many thanks for this very comprehensive review!

I have downloaded the sample chapter from Apple Books and will be reading it.

5

Bought the eBook…I’m pretty certain that the $17 cdn is going to pay back many, many times!

6

Cheers for the extensive book review, Stuart :smiley:
I read the whole thing on your LL and saved myself the money on buying the book and can invest the time into effective practice itself (… as if! :rofl:)
Many of the points raised are similar to what Justin recommends. My problem is less knowing what I should do, but actually doing it.
I’m not sure how helpful advice like this is:
“If you take nothing else away from this book, take this: sleep is absolutely essential … you have to prioritise sleep.”
You can say the same about diet, exercise and drug consumption.
Having said that, we all have different methods of learning and what we find useful. I do not want to detract from how helpful this might be to some.
It looks like a good review.
Right, I’m off to get some essential sleep practice :wink:

1 Like
7

Any particular order?

1 Like
8

@judi Hi Judi, for myself I only count the time actually practicing and not the preparation time. The book recommends scheduling out the things you will practice ahead of time so that in the 20-30 minute session you already know what you’re going to do and this should minimise the time between items when you are actually practicing. The reflection time at the end of the session/day is where you set your goals for the next session.

Dr. Gebrian has a YT channel where she demonstrates how she puts the ideas in the book into practice. You might find some of them useful. I found the September Challenge videos helpful and they’re generally only 5-10 mins each.

https://www.youtube.com/@DrMollyGebrian

2 Likes
9

Hi Judi,

Thanks for the book recommendation and review. I haven’t read it yet but I might check it out.

1 Like
10

Thanks Stuart. What you write makes so much sense! I ordered the book. And thank you SO much for referring us to Dr. Gebrian’s YT Channel. I watched the first two days of her September Challenge - very well presented, especially in day 2 where she steps through an example of actually applying the tip of the day.

1 Like
11

Hi Dave, I can’t take credit for Stuart’s @ziggysden work here! Do follow up on his suggestion to check out her YouTube Channel. I think you’ll find the September Challenge Stuart mentions worth a look. :smiling_face:

1 Like
12

Stuart i’m about a third of the way through the book now, and I’m excited to start adding these insights to my practice routine.

It’s a lot, and I’m going to have to do it incrementally. What was the first thing you did?

1 Like
13

@Tbushell Hi Tom. The first thing I did was I went back to a paper practice journal and focused on the goals rather than just logging what I did in a spreadsheet. It’s early days but I’m already noticing a difference in focus. Focus on the why and the how, rather than just on the what.

Second thing I did was break up my practice time into 20 minute blocks, added short breaks, and spaced them out across the day

3 Likes
14

Thanks, that sounds like a really good place to start.

Think I’ll do that too, and fine tune as I proceed through the book.

2 Likes
15

I’ve been a bit bothered since posting my above comments :thinking:
They come across as more mean-spirited than I had intended.
Everything that folk find interesting or useful is worthwhile :smiley:
Apologies if I made anyone else feel uncomfortable.

16

I’m 3 days into incorporating the book’s techniques into my practice routine. It’s early days, but it already seems to have leveled up my practicing significantly - both in efficiency and effectiveness.

I have a goal to improve and perform 3 songs at our local “Chord Sheet Jammers” song circle / guitar club group this weekend, which is helping me focus on a short term goal.

Techniques described in the book that have been working out so far:

  • Practice Journal

  • Overlearning

  • Interleaved practice

  • Time constrained practice

  • Simplicate, and add slowness / Complicate, and add fastness (my term, not the author’s :slight_smile: )

  • Breaks

  • Practice schedule

  • Mental practice

  • Practicing vs Performing

Some of these I’ve known about for years (possibly under different name)s, but it’s only now that I think I understand how to use them in my day to day practice.

I’ve been playing these three songs for 2 or 3 years now, but problems that I’ve been unable to fix in the past are now showing noticeable improvement over the last 3 days.

Really feels like my learning is accelerating to a whole new level!

2 Likes