Learn Faster, Perform Better

A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing

De: Molly Gebrian

Narrado por: Melanie Carey

Practicing is an essential part of every musician's life, but we are rarely taught how to practice in the most effective and efficient way. Many of us find ourselves frustrated when we sound good in the practice room only to embarrass ourselves on stage or in front of our teachers. We feel overwhelmed by the amount of music we have to learn, unsure how to balance everything. Playing from memory can feel terrifying and an insurmountable challenge, and overcoming bad habits can seem impossible at times.

Molly Gebrian applies the science of learning and memory to practicing and performing, giving musicians the tools to learn music more effectively and experience greater confidence on stage. Researchers working in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience have discovered many important principles about how the brain learns new information, retains this information both short- and long-term, and how to make this learning reliable in high-pressure situations like performances. Musicians often choose practice strategies that don't align well with the optimal ways in which the brain learns, leading to frustration while practicing and inconsistency in performance. The author offers a practical guide, using accessible language for non-scientists and non-academics, to help musicians get more out of their practicing by applying this research. Gebrian starts with general principles of learning and how the brain works, and then progresses through increasingly specific topics. Throughout the book, the science behind the various topics is explained in layman's terms, accompanied by practical, actionable advice that can be implemented immediately, to give musicians of all levels better tools while practicing and greater confidence on stage.

©2024 Oxford University Press (P)2025 G&D Media

Priceless, Almost Perfect, a Masterpiece

I have the audiobook and the paperback version of "Learn Faster, Perform Better." It delivers on its title's promise. The reader's voice quality, articulation, her choices for emphasis, the evenness of volume level, and the pace could not be better. I'm thrilled that a book so important to me has been given high-quality treatment as an audiobook.

I've listened to this book all the way through three times, so far. I found the practice tips and techniques, such as temporarily emphasizing mistakes, to be amazingly useful to my guitar practice-routine. I was annoyed, at first, by the presentation of the underlying basis for the strategies presented. After finishing the book, however, I realized that it was a masterpiece, as is, with extremely few wasted words.

The "almost perfect" reference in my review title is there because there were two things that confused me enough to email the author for clarification, which she provided promptly. If you've read this far, I highly recommend that you get this audiobook now. It will be a great conversation starter the next time you meet up with one of your musician friends who is dedicated, like you, to becoming a more-efficient student and a better performer.

Clear actionable practice tips with scientific backing

Dr Molly is a goldmine of musical neurological knowledge. These recommendations have already improved my approach to practice, my knowledge of how I best learn, and my overall performance.

The guide I wish I had 50 years ago.

Everything you need to know about deliberate practice (the golden standard) as it applies to musical instrument performance.

Fabulous application of science results to music learning

Of the 10 or so “how to practice music” books and courses I’ve done, This is by far the best.

Informative, thoughtful, practical, and motivational

A fabulous book on learning how to practice … Dr. Gebrian has taken a lot of work from neuroscience and applied it to music. This is the most helpful book on learning how to practice that I’ve read (I have it in paper and audio).

I wish I had this book in high school/college!

This is full of ideas and strategies for effective practice whether you're a teacher or performer. When I was studying, they told us to practice more if we struggled with something, which was usually a waste of time. This book helps you figure out how to practice better, and why the methods work based on neuroscience. A great resource!