Thinking on getting things to sink in....

[Bob]

So I do my chord routine.  Going through different ways of working with the chords. 

But I'm wondering when I'll start to see some real changes. 

I'm just doing stuff on the keyboard, so it may take some written stuff before I get what I'm looking for.  Or changing the way I'm thinking about this stuff.

But what does it take to get something to sink in?  I'm not talking aobut being able to play something -- This is more of an instant recognition/understanding type of thing. 

How many repetitions?  How much focus? 

I'm just thinking more of everything.  More variations.  More focus.  More time spent on this (although it can get a little tedious and mentally numbing, but I'm wondering if I should be stopping at that point or pushing on or what). 

Or just changing the format so I force myself to go step by step.  Like speaking the name of the chord before I play it. 

I'm just wondering if there's a way I can step it up a bit.

[slobone]

Bob, try playing some stuff by ear. Take some familiar songs and see if you can reproduce the chords on the piano. Listen to them on iTunes or whatever and pause them frequently. I think ear training is half the battle on really integrating harmony into your musical awareness.