My Online Guitar Lessons

Today, Ig (over at igblog.wordpress.com) had an interesting post regarding the theory of deliberate practice by a Florida State University professor. The theory was that practicing for 2 hours every day for 10 years straight would make you an expert in the field. With measured disciplined practice over a long period of time, ‘expert’ status would be gained in that field.

However, what determines being an expert? Nothing is more stubborn than the knowledge of an expert. If someone ever believes they have arrived at some point, they can never grow. True success is a journey, not a destination. Everyone will have their own opinion about results, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

While I believe that true ‘natural gift’ comes from the self-discipline to practice longer and harder than anyone else, Stratoblogster had an interesting spin on things. He said that there are many extraneous variables that came into play to guarantee success, and would tend to agree. Obviously putting in 2 hours a day for 10 years on the guitar would have viable results, but what really determines results is not that someone spent thousands of hours playing, but what someone put into those hours.

This goes to show that a rigorous playing schedule can bring about many different results. This does not mean guaranteed success as a professional musician; but remember success is a journey, not a destination. Success to each person depends on their goals, dreams and aspirations. While anyone who practices for that many hours will indeed improve, their level of discipline, proper teaching, and determination is what is going to separate them from the crowd.

How can one become successful as a guitarist then? Well, what’s your idea of success? If you want to grow in your guitar journey, certainly daily disciplined practice over a long period of time is going to help you grow. Success is made up of successful days, which make up successful months, successful years, and so on.

So what’s that mean for us today? It means that right now you need to pick up your guitar, give it the attention it deserves (Ig has also declared it Hug Your Guitar Week), set yourself some daily practice target goals, and record yourself or find another way to measure your progress.