Most valuable thing you have learned during practice recently?

[youngpianist]

What is the most valuable thing you have learned during practice recently? I keep relearning the lesson that I need to hurry slowly. I often try to rush my learning. But my impatience comes back to bite me, and I have to slow down. Despite this, I play pretty well. But I think I would learn faster if I was patient and worked slower. How about you?

[bwl_13]

What I've learned is to know when to stop. I'm in between teachers (starting with a new one this Thursday) but I've spent hours of the past few weeks stretching tenths and probably playing octaves with improper technique because I've injured myself and have had to take a break with my left hand. Luckily, I stopped before it became too serious, but I still am staying away from the most technically demanding left hand passages in my repertoire and it's a shame.

[lelle]

Sounds like a painful but valuable lesson! I have also learned the hard way that it's important to pace yourself, especially if you, like me, don't have perfect technique.

[youngpianist]

Thank you for replying. It is important to stop as soon as it hurts.
Hmm I'm a bit disappointed. I thought more people would give input on this question. I find it very interesting! Do you other people here not learn new things during practice?

[Bob]

Taking the status of things in mind, along with the general direction for a push, when figuring out what to do each day.  That might end up being a push.  Or it could be ease or resetting form.  Or it might just be going through the motions, not driving in terms of any plan.  Having things (the path, a plan) slip away a bit isn't great though.

[youngpianist]

What do you mean by resetting form?