Talent code: The deep practice cell

Myelin is defined in the chapter as a microscopic white substance, which is continuously being wrapped around nerve fibers.  Coyle defines myelin as the key to learning important skills that create talent. Deep practice triggers growing myelin and increases talent that separates us from one another. Firing the circuits that produce myelin takes understanding of repetition, passion, and drive. If one does not have these qualities myelin will not produce and therefore no skill would be achieved. Energy and time are the important factors of creating myelin. Firing the circuit is caused by paying attention to mistakes; … “[myelin] responds to urgent repetition.” Skill is a muscle that has to be worked at over time in order to get stronger and is improved through slow guidance of oneself.

Key Concept:

In order to build skill, we need to focus on the biological process it takes to do so.

Key terms:

Myelin

Meritocratic

Synapses

Connection:

By not doing effective deep practice I have realized after reading this chapter that I have to have patience when building my skills as well as drive to want to develop good skills. I have created some bad habits that need to be undone by knowing there is a limit of the amount of information that I can retain. I need time for my brain to retain this information because the skill is a muscle where as I thought if I just look practice a piece of music over and over again I will learn it but I see that’s not the case.  I need to learn how to love music again.