This was a fascinating chapter about a white matter called Myelin. It explains that deep practice does not make perfect it makes Myelin!! When we deep practice we are firing optimizing circuits more often. Myelin helps synapses fire at precise moments to make the most optimal things happen. Myelin is wrapped around nerve fibers. In a way it is literally solidifying things that are practiced. My favorite analogy in this chapter described it as installing broadband to our circuitry. Myelin is not particular to a specific talent. Any circuits that get consistently fired are insulated. Myelin plays an intricate part in human skill and learning. The study of myelin is still in it's early stages, but scientists can see it's enormous potential.
When we deep practice, we are firing circuits frequently and we have the opportunity to miss a lot. When we hit it correctly, whatever we are doing, it can literally be solidified by a substance called myelin
Key Terms: Myelin, Oligodendrocytes
The adage that old habits die hard it extremely literal. When I practice incorrectly I am solidifying a negative thing. I'm wrapping the wrong nerve fibers. I'm allowing bad habits to become a semi permanent part of me. That's sort of scary.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Chapter One: The Sweet Spot
Chapter Summary:
Some cultures may seem predestined to have success in certain talent fields. Although these outside factors contribute to talent hotbeds around the world, the real secret to their success is the way in which they practice. Achieving any skill takes a deep practice in which you have reached the sweet spot, the place where mistakes happen. Embracing mistakes and thinking about them along with repeatedly correcting mistakes are all essential parts of developing a talent.
Key Concepts:
Effective practice means to "target the struggle", seeking out mistakes and using repetition to correct them until the desired result is achieved.
Making mistakes is essential to developing talents.
Key Terms:
talent hotbeds
deep practice
the sweet spot
Making Connections:
Although I am good at finding mistakes in my singing, I need to remember to THINK about why I am making the mistake. An important part of deep practicing is stepping back and thinking about why the mistake is happening and how to fix it, not just repeating it until you get it right. Although repetition is essential it means nothing without the thinking.
Some cultures may seem predestined to have success in certain talent fields. Although these outside factors contribute to talent hotbeds around the world, the real secret to their success is the way in which they practice. Achieving any skill takes a deep practice in which you have reached the sweet spot, the place where mistakes happen. Embracing mistakes and thinking about them along with repeatedly correcting mistakes are all essential parts of developing a talent.
Key Concepts:
Effective practice means to "target the struggle", seeking out mistakes and using repetition to correct them until the desired result is achieved.
Making mistakes is essential to developing talents.
Key Terms:
talent hotbeds
deep practice
the sweet spot
Making Connections:
Although I am good at finding mistakes in my singing, I need to remember to THINK about why I am making the mistake. An important part of deep practicing is stepping back and thinking about why the mistake is happening and how to fix it, not just repeating it until you get it right. Although repetition is essential it means nothing without the thinking.
The Talent Code Chapter 2
Chapter Summary
Myelination is the key to developing solid talent. The actions performed by are body are determined by impulses that travel through are brain and are then processed into physical activities. Connections between neurons are necessary to complete actions successfully, but neuron connections are prone to mistakes and take place much slower when they are not fortified by myelin. The more we utilize the circuitry in our brain that is connected to a certain action, the more natural that action becomes. This is a direct result of increased myelination of said circuit. Myelination plays a key role in the development of all skills and only deteriorates due to age or disease. Myelination is a slow process, so developing proficiency in a given skill takes dedicated habits of deep practice over an extended period of time.
Key Concept
The development of myelin in the brain is the most important factor in developing talent. Increased myelination leads to an exponential increase in the speed at which impulses in the brain are processed and turned into successful actions.
Key Terms
myelin
myelination
skill
white matter
oligodendrocytes
astrocytes
Making Connections
The principles in this chapter very well illustrate that overall talent is developed and not simply given. This can help singers to realize that they all have the potential to improve and achieve greatness as singers if they have the proper dedication when practicing.
These principles should encourage singers to develop consistent practice habits as sophisticated myelination only occurs with hours of effective practice.
Chapter Summary
Myelination is the key to developing solid talent. The actions performed by are body are determined by impulses that travel through are brain and are then processed into physical activities. Connections between neurons are necessary to complete actions successfully, but neuron connections are prone to mistakes and take place much slower when they are not fortified by myelin. The more we utilize the circuitry in our brain that is connected to a certain action, the more natural that action becomes. This is a direct result of increased myelination of said circuit. Myelination plays a key role in the development of all skills and only deteriorates due to age or disease. Myelination is a slow process, so developing proficiency in a given skill takes dedicated habits of deep practice over an extended period of time.
Key Concept
The development of myelin in the brain is the most important factor in developing talent. Increased myelination leads to an exponential increase in the speed at which impulses in the brain are processed and turned into successful actions.
Key Terms
myelin
myelination
skill
white matter
oligodendrocytes
astrocytes
Making Connections
The principles in this chapter very well illustrate that overall talent is developed and not simply given. This can help singers to realize that they all have the potential to improve and achieve greatness as singers if they have the proper dedication when practicing.
These principles should encourage singers to develop consistent practice habits as sophisticated myelination only occurs with hours of effective practice.
The Talent Code: Chapter 2 Summary
Luke Shepherd
Chapter Summary
Skill can be defined in terms of what exactly is happening in your brain that makes you more skillful at something. Every movement we make involves a precisely timed electrical signal along the nerve fibers in our brain, and as we fire those signals along the nerve fibers we are also insulating that circuit with myelin. In this light, skill is seen as a series of circuits in our brains that have been fired over and over again due to our mistake-focused/deep practice method so as to make certain movements or abilities 'automatic'. This is because the more we fire a particular circuit or series of circuits (singing a certain bar of music, practicing your tennis backhand) the more we insulate those pathways with myelin, the stuff that skill is made of. Myelin insulates the circuit so that the next time you use it it is faster, more efficient and fluent, and more readily available for future access. Heavily myelinated circuits is what leads to mastery. This is why deep practice works so well. By focusing on mistakes and stopping to fix them you are firing and refiring the same circuits over and over again, thus insulating those circuits with more and more myelin.
Key Concept
Skill is a series of neural circuits that are heavily insulated with myelin due to precise electrical signals in our brain. Myelin is skill. Myelin comes from deep practice. "Deep practice X 10,000 hours = World class skill."
Key Terms
Myelin
Automaticity
Skill
Making Connections
It turns out that all my frustration and struggle with learning to sing can be an advantage for me-I need to learn to harness that energy in practice in a the kind of 'desperation' or 'hunger' that leads to myelin making. I need to not reinforce bad habits in poor or unhealthy vocal production I've developed by 'singing through' a song. Rather, I need to focus especially on those areas so as to create new myelinated pathways for my brain to use, because those bad habits won't 'undo' themselves (aka, those neural pathways won't 'unmyelinate')
Luke Shepherd
Chapter Summary
Skill can be defined in terms of what exactly is happening in your brain that makes you more skillful at something. Every movement we make involves a precisely timed electrical signal along the nerve fibers in our brain, and as we fire those signals along the nerve fibers we are also insulating that circuit with myelin. In this light, skill is seen as a series of circuits in our brains that have been fired over and over again due to our mistake-focused/deep practice method so as to make certain movements or abilities 'automatic'. This is because the more we fire a particular circuit or series of circuits (singing a certain bar of music, practicing your tennis backhand) the more we insulate those pathways with myelin, the stuff that skill is made of. Myelin insulates the circuit so that the next time you use it it is faster, more efficient and fluent, and more readily available for future access. Heavily myelinated circuits is what leads to mastery. This is why deep practice works so well. By focusing on mistakes and stopping to fix them you are firing and refiring the same circuits over and over again, thus insulating those circuits with more and more myelin.
Key Concept
Skill is a series of neural circuits that are heavily insulated with myelin due to precise electrical signals in our brain. Myelin is skill. Myelin comes from deep practice. "Deep practice X 10,000 hours = World class skill."
Key Terms
Myelin
Automaticity
Skill
Making Connections
It turns out that all my frustration and struggle with learning to sing can be an advantage for me-I need to learn to harness that energy in practice in a the kind of 'desperation' or 'hunger' that leads to myelin making. I need to not reinforce bad habits in poor or unhealthy vocal production I've developed by 'singing through' a song. Rather, I need to focus especially on those areas so as to create new myelinated pathways for my brain to use, because those bad habits won't 'undo' themselves (aka, those neural pathways won't 'unmyelinate')
Chapter 1 Summary The Sweet Spot
In this chapter we look at the idea and the application of deep practice. The author gives us two incredible and unique examples. As observers we would define deep practice as focused practice or concentrated practice. In reality its the idea that we need to stop, struggle, make errors, and then learn from them. No matter what the skill or idea is, it can be improved with a conscious effort to focus on bits and pieces that create the whole. The chapter also discussed how its easier for our brains to learn and remember if we have to struggle or solve some sort of challenge. Our memories are not like tape recorders. When we have to make the connections ourselves and work for our improvement, we retain so much more.
Mastering the little things in practicing opens up your mind for better retention and better mastery of the harder concepts.
Key Term: Deep Practice
I always have this fear that i've done too little when i focus on mastering small chunks in my music. I am greatly mistaken! If i actually master those small chunks those small chunks become larger chunks and create a solid foundation for a brilliant performance.
I need to let myself stop, struggle, make mistakes, and then try to learn from them. I have too many negative reactions in my own practicing and don't grasp the learning opportunities
Mastering the little things in practicing opens up your mind for better retention and better mastery of the harder concepts.
Key Term: Deep Practice
I always have this fear that i've done too little when i focus on mastering small chunks in my music. I am greatly mistaken! If i actually master those small chunks those small chunks become larger chunks and create a solid foundation for a brilliant performance.
I need to let myself stop, struggle, make mistakes, and then try to learn from them. I have too many negative reactions in my own practicing and don't grasp the learning opportunities
The Talent Code: Chapter 1 Summary
Luke Shepherd
Chapter Summary
When speaking of 'talent' we must understand that the truly talented and successful do not depend on some innate or natural born ability to achieve proficiency in their field. Rather, talent is built and developed as we practice in the 'sweet spot', or as we deep practice. The best practice is when we are being challenged to do something just beyond our current ability and as we struggle and make mistakes. Mistakes are vital to the learning/deep practice process. By having error-focused practice we stretch our abilities and build skill exponentially faster and more effectively than simply running through the motions. Progress thus becomes a 'rhythmic pattern of botches', effort through struggle and making mistakes.
Key Concept
The most efficient practice is centered around struggle for something just beyond your reach and making mistakes in the process.
Key Terms
Deep Practice
Talent
Making Connections
I need to choose challenging repertiore that will require great effort on my part to learn. This will help me to focus my practice on specific skills and sections of music where I struggle, thus allowing me to gain access to that 'sweet spot' of deep practice. I shouldn't focus so much on how much I practice as how well I practice. I don't have the time to throw away on inefficient practice.
Luke Shepherd
Chapter Summary
When speaking of 'talent' we must understand that the truly talented and successful do not depend on some innate or natural born ability to achieve proficiency in their field. Rather, talent is built and developed as we practice in the 'sweet spot', or as we deep practice. The best practice is when we are being challenged to do something just beyond our current ability and as we struggle and make mistakes. Mistakes are vital to the learning/deep practice process. By having error-focused practice we stretch our abilities and build skill exponentially faster and more effectively than simply running through the motions. Progress thus becomes a 'rhythmic pattern of botches', effort through struggle and making mistakes.
Key Concept
The most efficient practice is centered around struggle for something just beyond your reach and making mistakes in the process.
Key Terms
Deep Practice
Talent
Making Connections
I need to choose challenging repertiore that will require great effort on my part to learn. This will help me to focus my practice on specific skills and sections of music where I struggle, thus allowing me to gain access to that 'sweet spot' of deep practice. I shouldn't focus so much on how much I practice as how well I practice. I don't have the time to throw away on inefficient practice.
The Talent Code: Chapters 1-3 Summaries
The Talent Code: Chapter 1, “The Sweet Spot”
Emily Cottam
Chapter Summary:
Those from different talent hotbeds share a similarly basic form of practice that relies on “purposefully operating on the edges of their ability,” demonstrating a form of learning that occurs after correcting errors on a consistent basis. Actively retrieving information is more effective on learning than passive reception. As demonstrated by Edwin Link’s flight simulator and Brazilian futsal, regular deep practice is much more effective than relying on perceived “natural-talent,” particularly as an aptitude indicator. It’s important to note that circumstance and level of passion are also necessary variables that make up a talent hotbed.
Key Concepts:
Focused practice that is geared towards error correction is the most effective way to build up myelin and improve skill.
Key Terms:
Corrective training/practice
Concentrative struggle
Improvisation
Making Connections:
In my own practice, I need to be able to recognize my errors and have the patience to immediately correct them.
Take the music slowly during the learning process so as not to glance over any problems carelessly. It’s the struggle to learn that makes the most effective teacher.
The Talent Code: Chapter 2, “The Deep Practice Cell”
Emily Cottam
Chapter Summary:
The myelin sheath is the insulator to the brain cell’s nerve fiber, and it not only provides protection for the cell, but it speeds up, strengthens, and increases the accuracy of the rate of neural firing. Repetitive firing of the same neural signals increases the amount of myelin that’s wrapped around a single neuron. Complex learning takes time because myelin is wrapped one layer at a time by oligodendrocytes and astrocyes (supporter cells/white matter) each time a neuron is fired. Once myelin is in place, only age/disease can undo it. “Prodigies” and “geniuses” are just a product of an intense desire to master a skill, which results on hours upon hours of deep practice.
Key Concepts:
Myelin speeds up, strengthens, and controls the speed/rate of neural firing, which is where skill comes from.
“Deep practice x 10,000 hours = World-Class Skill.”
Key Terms:
“Muscle memory”
White matter (brain tissue)
Unconscious learning
Brain plasticity
Making Connections:
Becoming a master in any field requires time, dedication, patience, and passion, so I can apply this to my practice by actively maintaining the fascination I have with music/singing so I am consistently motivated to improve.
The Talent Code: Chapter 3, “The Brontes, the Z-Boys, and the Renaissance”
Emily Cottam
Chapter Summary:
“Out-of-the-blue” talent stories are mostly the results of many years of motivated and deep learning--desperation and/or innovation often give rise to the pioneers of “genius.” Myelin isn’t selective--every human being utilizes it, regardless of situation or circumstance. In the Renaissance, apprenticeship was an effective way to produce masters of a particular skillset because of the many hours spent actively performing an activity. Myelin is nature’s way of providing organisms with a flexible problem solver so adaptation can occur, rather than creating a genetic code for every potential action.
Key Concepts:
Every human being has the potential to develop a skillset because myelin and white matter is not picky to a select few number of people. All it takes is practice and active learning.
Myelin is unique to the individual because every individual has to adapt to different situations.
Key Terms:
Apprenticeship Learning
“Convergence” Theory (Ideal Circumstances Theory)
Making Connections:
Based on the knowledge that I’ve gained on myelin so far, I know that practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. I can take the concept of apprenticeships from the Renaissance and remind myself that the quality of skill is dependent on the way I practice; quality practice begets quality skill, and vice versa.
The Talent Code Chapter 1
Chapter Summary
The development of talent is more closely related to one's diligence and effectiveness in practice than it is to nature, upbringing, or other circumstances that are merely a matter of coincidence. Although things such as culture can have an influence on someone's activities, such things by themselves do not create talent and skill. The degree to which talent is developed is more reliant on practice and--more importantly--how one practices. Deep Practice or practice that requires you to push yourself to the limits of your abilities is the best kind of practice for developing skill. Making mistakes causes the individual to concentrate harder, make repeated attempts and thus improve more quickly.
Key Concept
If you want to get real results from your practicing, you need to practice in a way that pushes you to the limits of your abilities.
Key Terms
Deep Practice
Making Connections
In order to improve my talents as a singer and the talents of those I teach I need to encourage myself and my students to develop good habits of deep practice. This can be done by selecting a vocal repertoire that is challenging and pushes the boundaries of my skills or the skills of my students.
I need to pinpoint necessary skills and develop them to a level of proficiency that is beyond that which is expected like the Brazilian athletes have done through futsol.
Chapter Summary
The development of talent is more closely related to one's diligence and effectiveness in practice than it is to nature, upbringing, or other circumstances that are merely a matter of coincidence. Although things such as culture can have an influence on someone's activities, such things by themselves do not create talent and skill. The degree to which talent is developed is more reliant on practice and--more importantly--how one practices. Deep Practice or practice that requires you to push yourself to the limits of your abilities is the best kind of practice for developing skill. Making mistakes causes the individual to concentrate harder, make repeated attempts and thus improve more quickly.
Key Concept
If you want to get real results from your practicing, you need to practice in a way that pushes you to the limits of your abilities.
Key Terms
Deep Practice
Making Connections
In order to improve my talents as a singer and the talents of those I teach I need to encourage myself and my students to develop good habits of deep practice. This can be done by selecting a vocal repertoire that is challenging and pushes the boundaries of my skills or the skills of my students.
I need to pinpoint necessary skills and develop them to a level of proficiency that is beyond that which is expected like the Brazilian athletes have done through futsol.
MUSC 3630 Vocal Pedagogy I
Class notes and reminders from Monday, August 26, 2013
1. I have printed up for each of you a paper copy of the sample chapter summary. I will put them in an envelope on my office door (FA 208B) if you want to pick up your copy before your first summary is due on Tuesday. I will also email you a copy this evening.
2. Chapter summaries are due by 6 pm on the day BEFORE the date listed on the Reading Schedule. The Reading Schedule date is the date we will discuss the reading in class.
3. YOUR FIRST CHAPTER SUMMARIES (for The Talent Code, Chapters 1 and 2-one summary for EACH chapter) must be posted by 6 PM TOMORROW (Tuesday, August 27th).
4. Performance critiques from BOTH Master Class (Tuesdays at 12:30 in FA 214-except tomorrow there is a meeting of new freshmen and transfers) and Recital Hour (Thursdays at 12:30 in FA 214) are due online by MIDNIGHT THURSDAY. Remember students in this class are required to all ALL Master Classes and ALL Voice Recital Hours and critique ALL singers.
5. Lesson summaries are due by MIDNIGHT SUNDAY of each week.
6. Self-videos (w your own report) are due OCT 7 and NOV 4. Your comments on TEN of the videos (5 each time) are due OCT 21 and NOV 18 respectively. All of these are midnight deadlines.
7. Remember that the blog address is cdvpcb.blogspot.com
8. I forgot to add you all as authors for the blog during class, so I have just done that. If you have not received your email invitation to join the blog, send me a text to 435-760-1609.
9. The IDEA essential objectives we have selected so far are:
#3 Learning to apply course materials (to improve rational thinking, problem solving and decisions.
#4 Developing specific skills, competencies and points of view needed by professionals in the field most closely related to this course.
#11 Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.
10. Be thinking about how you would like to be assessed on The Talent Code book. We will discuss ideas on Friday, September 13th.
Cindy
Class notes and reminders from Monday, August 26, 2013
1. I have printed up for each of you a paper copy of the sample chapter summary. I will put them in an envelope on my office door (FA 208B) if you want to pick up your copy before your first summary is due on Tuesday. I will also email you a copy this evening.
2. Chapter summaries are due by 6 pm on the day BEFORE the date listed on the Reading Schedule. The Reading Schedule date is the date we will discuss the reading in class.
3. YOUR FIRST CHAPTER SUMMARIES (for The Talent Code, Chapters 1 and 2-one summary for EACH chapter) must be posted by 6 PM TOMORROW (Tuesday, August 27th).
4. Performance critiques from BOTH Master Class (Tuesdays at 12:30 in FA 214-except tomorrow there is a meeting of new freshmen and transfers) and Recital Hour (Thursdays at 12:30 in FA 214) are due online by MIDNIGHT THURSDAY. Remember students in this class are required to all ALL Master Classes and ALL Voice Recital Hours and critique ALL singers.
5. Lesson summaries are due by MIDNIGHT SUNDAY of each week.
6. Self-videos (w your own report) are due OCT 7 and NOV 4. Your comments on TEN of the videos (5 each time) are due OCT 21 and NOV 18 respectively. All of these are midnight deadlines.
7. Remember that the blog address is cdvpcb.blogspot.com
8. I forgot to add you all as authors for the blog during class, so I have just done that. If you have not received your email invitation to join the blog, send me a text to 435-760-1609.
9. The IDEA essential objectives we have selected so far are:
#3 Learning to apply course materials (to improve rational thinking, problem solving and decisions.
#4 Developing specific skills, competencies and points of view needed by professionals in the field most closely related to this course.
#11 Learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.
10. Be thinking about how you would like to be assessed on The Talent Code book. We will discuss ideas on Friday, September 13th.
Cindy
Reading Assignments: Sample
TALENT CODE: Introduction
Chapter Summary:
For each chapter you read, you are to write at least one paragraph (in your own words) that summarizes what this chapter was about.
Talent hotbeds spring up in unexpected places. This is a phenomenon that has been occurring for centuries. In practice it is critical to have an internal blueprint (or model) that you are constantly comparing yourself to. Highly-targeted error-focused practice is critical to learning. Targeted practice builds skill. Not all forms of practice build skill. Just playing through something is useless. Myelin wraps around nerve fibers in the brain making the signal stronger, faster, and more accurate, which is the same thing as skill.
Key Concepts:
For each chapter you read, you are to write one or two sentences that explain the most important ideas in this chapter.
The more time and energy you put into the RIGHT kind of practice, the more skill you get.
Key Terms:
For each chapter you read, you are to make a list of key terms discussed in the chapter. Some chapters will have many terms, others not so many. Before the exams you will be required to provide definitions for all of your key terms.
Myelin
Targeted Practice
Making Connections:
For each chapter read, you are to write at least one or two sentences that describe how you are going to use this information in your own practice and/or in your own teaching of others.
Students need to be instructed in HOW to practice and not just WHAT and HOW MUCH to practice.
I need to make sure that I end each lesson with specific instructions on the HOWS of practice.
I need to read this book again very carefully so that I can really understand how to teach error-focused practice.
Chapter Summary:
For each chapter you read, you are to write at least one paragraph (in your own words) that summarizes what this chapter was about.
Talent hotbeds spring up in unexpected places. This is a phenomenon that has been occurring for centuries. In practice it is critical to have an internal blueprint (or model) that you are constantly comparing yourself to. Highly-targeted error-focused practice is critical to learning. Targeted practice builds skill. Not all forms of practice build skill. Just playing through something is useless. Myelin wraps around nerve fibers in the brain making the signal stronger, faster, and more accurate, which is the same thing as skill.
Key Concepts:
For each chapter you read, you are to write one or two sentences that explain the most important ideas in this chapter.
The more time and energy you put into the RIGHT kind of practice, the more skill you get.
Key Terms:
For each chapter you read, you are to make a list of key terms discussed in the chapter. Some chapters will have many terms, others not so many. Before the exams you will be required to provide definitions for all of your key terms.
Myelin
Targeted Practice
Making Connections:
For each chapter read, you are to write at least one or two sentences that describe how you are going to use this information in your own practice and/or in your own teaching of others.
Students need to be instructed in HOW to practice and not just WHAT and HOW MUCH to practice.
I need to make sure that I end each lesson with specific instructions on the HOWS of practice.
I need to read this book again very carefully so that I can really understand how to teach error-focused practice.
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