I’ve been reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. He has a chapter called “The Goldilocks Rule,” and I found it very applicable to piano life. I have always loved the Goldilocks story and I use it often in lessons. The book’s Goldilocks context is a little different. Clear writes that “the human brain loves a challenge, but only if it is within an optimal zone of difficulty.” He calls that zone just manageable difficulty. Not too hard, not too easy, we thrive with challenges that are right on the edge of our current abilities. While reading, I wondered if this was in conflict with Dr. Suzuki’s “raise your ability with a piece you can already play” philosophy. Well, later in the chapter, Clear goes on to develop the idea that mastery requires practice. But, practicing the same thing over and over toward mastery can get tiring. The biggest threat to our mastery is boredom along the way. Only those who can keep their brains stimulated during the trials of daily practice will achieve the reward of excellence. We have to fall in love with boredom. We have to fall in love with the routine. Enter games, charts, practice challenges and extrinsic motivators. When my kids were little I tried to stay one step ahead of them with a new idea for practicing. I made board games. I made little charts with little rewards. There were even months when I paid them a small appropriate amount to practice. We are in this for the long haul, sometimes along the way you will need some sparks of joy, some novel practice ideas. When things are going smoothly, enjoy. When you hit a bump, access whether your little one’s brain needs practice stimulation. These two ideas can work together, appropriate challenges paired with stimulating and enjoyable practice habits. Stay in the Goldilocks zone!
