How you practice is infinitely more important than how much you practice. Imagine someone who decides to teach themselves to juggle by running in circles. No matter how many hours a day they spend running in circles, they won’t get any better at juggling.

It’s an absurd example, but it illustrates the point: How you practice — your practice technique — will determine how good you become at whatever it is you’re practicing. Therefore, becoming a better practicer should be your primary focus as a musician.

“Good” practice — often referred to as deliberate practice — consists of methodically and strategically finding and solving problems, as opposed to blindly repeating material in hopes of getting better.