Practice is something most students dread.  I think it’s because most of the time, if not all of the time, practice involves doing something that needs improving.  If you’re like me, you would rather stick to doing the things you already know how to do.  It’s more relaxing and fun.  Practice is hard work.  Practice sometimes involves thought.  Practice shows us the things we can’t do well.  Practice takes time.

I’ve been practicing my flat-picking.  I’ve been sitting with some of the books that I’ve been teaching from and playing along with the CD’s that come with them.  I’m not at the level I thought I was.  But I’m getting better.  In my practice, I try to play the notes exactly the way they are played on the CD.  It’s helping my timing!  It’s hard to leave the slow speed where I can play the song comfortably, and move on to a faster version of the same song.  My fingers stumble all over each other and I miss half the notes.  But it’s helping my timing.

I just started putting rhythm tracks down for the next Paul & Mary Good CD.  I discovered that I am playing a lot closer to the beat than I was before.  I think practice is helping my timing.

Music isn’t the only area where practice is needed.  In the Bible, Romans 12:13 tells us to practice hospitality.  It’s easier to care more about ourselves than the needs and desires of those around us.  There are other verses about practicing what we preach.  And others that tell us to practice our religion.  It’s easy to think we know how to do something.  Sometimes the people around us would tell us different if we would ask them.

Whatever you’re trying to learn at the moment, don’t give up.  Keep working on it.  Keep practicing.  And someday you’ll look back and be able to see how far you’ve come!