Strategies for Retention

Novelty and surprise! Means MEMORY. Throw twists, do things differently.

1. Right wrong right.
Play it right a few times, then wrong a few times. E.g., play lightly, then use too much left hand pressure.

2. Do it like you will do it.
E.g., playing using a strap, at stage volume, etc.

3. Super slow mo.
E.g., 5 times slower than you normally do it. For the purpose of analyzing everything that's happening. Painfully slow. Subtle changes you can't see otherwise.

4. Play it backwards.

5. Play in the dark.
Eliminating one sense makes others more acute.

6. Play pretend.
Create mental imagery when you play, imagine various scenarios. Notice how this creates different feelings.

7. Make a game.

8. Five times perfect.
Game, do it 5 times perfectly before you can move on.

9. Do it NOT like you will do it.
Change tempo, change style, play it weird.

10. Bump the ceiling.
We advance fastest when we play at edge of ability. E.g., playing at 130 is too fast, but 120 is hard but just possible. So stay there.