Grounded Practice – The Practice Strategy That Accelerates Real Growth

In our fast-paced lives as musicians, it’s easy to feel like we’re always rushing to meet a deadline, to fix a passage, to “get better” fast. But what if that urgency is the very thing holding us back?

Patience is not just as a virtue, but a powerful strategy in the practice room. And not just patience with the music, but with ourselves, our progress, and the process itself.

Let’s talk about what grounded practice really means and why it might be the one thing that transforms your growth this year.

Rushing Isn’t Faster

Think of the last time you rushed out the door and forgot something important - your keys, your tuner, your confidence. That’s exactly what happens in the practice room when we rush.

You might “get through” the notes, but it won’t stick. You’ll sound unpolished, feel tense, and spend way more time reworking things later.

Stephen Covey said, “The price must be paid and the process followed.”

There is no shortcut. Not in performance, not in preparation, and not in progress.

Slow is Fast

It might feel counterintuitive, but slowing down can actually speed things up. When we give ourselves the space to practice with intention, not just repetition, we’re setting ourselves up for real, sustainable progress.

That means:

• Being thoughtful about how we approach a problem

• Choosing quality over quantity in our reps

• Letting new skills brew without forcing them

This is how we avoid burnout and build confidence: by being present and giving our brain what it actually needs to learn: space, consistency, and calm.

The Brick-House Approach

Quick fixes might feel good in the moment, but they don’t last under pressure. We want to build our technique, mindset, and musical expression like the third little pig built his house out of bricks.

That means:

• Clear planning

• Focused problem-solving

• Pausing to breathe and reassess when something isn’t working

• Noticing the emotions that drive your urgency and choosing patience instead

The Goldilocks Zone of Practice

Patience doesn’t mean dragging your feet. It’s not about being passive or slow for the sake of it. It’s about finding that just right pace where you’re working efficiently, but with care.

You’ll know you’re out of balance when:

• Practice feels frantic or mindless

• You’re forcing progress that isn’t coming

• You leave feeling more tense than when you started

Instead, take a breath. Tune into your body. Ask:

• What’s driving me right now: clarity or panic?

• Is this urgency real or self-created?

• What do I need to do right now to move forward with intention?

When you center yourself this way, your practice becomes more focused, more productive,

and, yes, more joyful.

Build From the Inside Out

This kind of grounded practice isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you are in the practice room. The energy you bring, the mindset you lead with, and the emotional clarity you hold onto when things get messy.

The result?You build a foundation you can trust. Your progress feels solid. You perform with confidence. And you stop spinning your wheels on the same problems again and again.

Ready to Go Deeper?

If you're ready to hit the ground running come September, Practicing for Peak Performance is your blueprint. This step-by-step course gives you the exact system to practice smarter, perform with confidence, and build unstoppable momentum.

Enroll this summer and get bonus access to The Performance Anxiety Solution — free.Start now at www.mindoverfinger.com/ppp