I was at the gym today working with my trainer. He was explaining the difference between “pumping up” and actually building muscle tissue.
Muscle that is built up over time with consistent training lasts. Not forever. But even if I don’t workout as much as I should, that progress and that strength don’t just disappear overnight. But if I show up to the gym and work out for an hour, maybe even two hours, and then wait a couple of weeks before I get back at it, there will be very little or even no advancement.
Similarly, as a musician I can work on practicing to perform one piece or maybe to lead one particular song at church, sort of like pumping up or I can have a consistent practice plan with focused “workouts” using excercises and “real” music to build skill.
So, I really have to stay on a steady, regular plan of practice, playing the enjoyably facile pieces AND the challenging ones that stretch my ability. Day in, day out. I hope to see growth that lasts a long, long time.
How do you apply consitency in your chosen discipline?