A DAY OFF

I'm taking a day off from intense practice today.  I'll probably stop by the piano from time to time and play a little something just for fun.  But no metronome, no focus.

I find that the breaks in between the practice sessions are just as important as the practice sessions.  In particular, a good night's sleep can really help the brain consolidate what it's learned. Many times I've found that something that was challenging one day became easy the next day, after a night's rest.

Rest, nutritious food, exercise, sobriety -- all of these things support the process of honing a skill.  A skill is stored in the body, particularly in the brain.  Those have to be in shape or the skill is dulled.

Of course, all break and no practice leaves nothing to consolidate.  The rest has meaning only in relationship to the activity.  I find that a one day break can be beneficial, but I begin to decondition after a two day break.

See you tomorrow, Johann.