How do you know if you've actually made progress?

[Bob]

I guess I'm thinking in very small increments. 

I'm wondering how you sense it/determine it. 

Over something like six months, it's more obvious.

And you generally know a strategy that works.  Do X, Y happens. 

But if you narrow in on a smaller span of time.... How do you notice or measure the results of what you do? 

I guess part of the answer would be that you do notice something and there must be something that can be measured.  Also, something could change that you don't notice, positive or negative.

[ted]

I have never been able to learn anything, including music, serially or in continuous sequence, so assessing changes over short periods of time is futile in my case. All aspects of my playing seem to change in discrete jumps. Perhaps for a couple of weeks or more I work like fury and get nowhere, then one morning everything is suddenly easy. So the answer for me is that I cannot assess change over short periods because of its discontinuous nature. Other people might, of course.

[Bob]

The more I think about this, the more confused I'm getting.

To measure things, to know if you're doing is the best strategy, etc., to tell if you're actually making progress...

[bernadette60614]

Honestly, I find that the less I worry about "progress" and the more I think about and work the process, the better I become naturally...and I really enjoy it a great deal more.

If I could go back and give myself advice, I'd say:  Think as much as you play during each practice session.  It is in thinking about your practice, that your practice improves...and your playing improves as a byproduct.

Just a student, though, not a professional...

[georgey]

Some examples:

Goal:  Lose weight.  You weigh yourself at 180lbs.  You then immediately drink 4 cups of water and weigh yourself again and weigh 182 pounds.   Conclusion:  I’m getting worse?

Goal:  bench 3 sets of 10 reps of 180 lbs (not me at my age).  You bench 3 sets of 9 reps going to failure, then you try again 5 minutes later and can’t even do 1 rep at 180 lbs.  Conclusion:  I’m getting worse?

Goal:  Lots of $ in your IRA account.  The stock market takes a 10% dip. Did you lose your $?  No, unless you sold in a panic.

Short term gains or losses can be misleading.

Play a passage well at 120BPM and try again at 132 BPM, but it sounds bad.  Do more practice and try again in a few days.  All of a sudden you can play at 132 BPM with good sound.  Looks like you made progress, but can you do this reliably? 5 weeks later you are able to do 10 times in a row at 132BPM with good sound.  Sounds like progress.

I agree, need some type of measurement (even if subjective) to conclude you are getting better (or worse), but be careful when making conclusions.

[dogperson]

I don't try to measure progress in moderate/large increments-- not from week to week or month to month...  but in minutely small increments:   is the problem measure/phrase now under control?   Is the dynamics what I want in this one measure?  Am I no longer bumping the thumb in this single phrase?

To think of any larger measure of progress is self-defeating for me to consider.  .. but when I put the progress in a measure together with other measures, I can see the change.  I now get an 'Aha' feeling by improving one tiny aspect. .. and that is how I set up my plans for a practice session:  this one phrase, section, measure or fioritura.  Baby steps of goals work for me but not measured by time... measured by discrete results.

When I look back from today to one year ago, I can see the positive change.  How do I know about the new negative changes?   My teacher is happy to let me know!

[Bob]

There needs to be some type of measurement, both objective and subjective.

Part of it is that there are different directions.  I'm thinking about progress, but also about ease.  I'd expect the same level of ability to become easier if I'm making progress.

Maybe the simplest....
Pick some aspect.
Pick a goal/direction.
Focus on something that should improve it.  You should see some progress.
For learning (and probably anything) sleep helps.   Things need to be consolidated.
Timewise, you might see results immediately, the next day, two weeks, or even six months.  If after six months, there's nothing, then it's pretty certain whatever you're doing isn't working.

The method for improvement is the part where a teacher is helpful.  Except a teacher isn't always around or the area might not be known.

[Bob]

Damage... Triggering the need for something different and paralysis by analysis.

Doing the exact same routine daily... vs. mixing it up for better results.  Even something like resting can aid actual improvement, free results.