Lesson 1 :  
Reflect And Per-fect

Ahhh… you just finished your practice session. You put your guitar down and sit there for a moment, feeling the satisfaction and bliss of knowing that you just completed a step to become a better guitar player. Well done!!

Now, before you engage in a different activity, try to take a couple of minutes to think about what went well and what you should focus on in your next session.

Reflecting immediately after practice takes advantage of a state where your brain is still highly engaged with the material.

Dr. Huberman explains that this timing is optimal because your brain's ability to reinforce learning pathways and solidify new skills is at its peak, and this process is so important for enhancing your memory consolidation and increasing overall awareness of your playing habits.  

Lets go a bit deeper on how to do this: 

How to Reflect Effectively:

1. Immediate Review:
   
   Right after you finish playing, take a moment to assess your session. This is the best time to capture accurate insights into your performance while it's still fresh in your mind.
   
   
2. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses:
   
   Determine which aspects of your playing were successful and which areas need more work. For example, if your chord transitions were smooth but your rhythm was off, you’ll know to focus more on timing in your next session.
   
   
3. Set Actionable Goals:
   
   Use your reflections to set specific targets for your next practice. If certain techniques need improvement, plan targeted exercises to address these in your upcoming sessions.
   
   

Practical Tools for Reflective Practice

1) Recording Sessions:

Use a simple recording device or your smartphone to capture your practice sessions. Reviewing these recordings can help you observe aspects of your playing that you might not notice in real-time.

2) Reflective Journaling:

Keep a practice journal where you note down your observations and plans after each session. This not only helps track your progress but also clarifies your focus for future practices.

I used to use a little book, but later on I moved to notion to write down relevant notes. Other times, I just make a mental note of what needs to be prioritized for the next session, and since the next session is over the next hours, there is not much of a problem on memory issues.

3) Enhancing Practice Through Reflection:

By incorporating reflective practice, you will transform your routine guitar sessions into a dynamic, targeted improvement process. By critically assessing each session and planning your next steps based on this reflection, you will see accelerated progress and a more profound integration of what you are learning.

Now let's go practice! 🎸✨