Violin Video Lesson: Six Steps involved in Problem Solving

I believe that one of the more difficult areas to understand about practicing is the process involved in problem solving. So, why don’t we have a look at my graph. Six steps that I believe will help explain and clarify this process. The six steps are: identify, define, explore, develop, transform, internalize.

So, looking at the first step reveals the need to identify the problem area. So most problem areas are rather easy to determine or identify but then we need to define them, or I could say, understand what the elements are in the determined problem area.

So its’ with he knowledge of these elements, knowing what they are, that we can proceed with expiring to find out what the root causes of the problems identified could be. And so with this exploration completed, we now need to develop strategies that will address, or should I say, lead us towards fixing the problem.

So, let’s see if we can figure out some strategies for learning this little excerpt, for example. Why don’t we just play the bottom note. Hmmm. What if I played the bottom note and I fingered the top note. Or… what if I played the top note and I still fingered the bottom. What If I played the first three notes. You see, whatever I can think of, is probably a good way to go when I am trying to create a strategy!

Now, with all these strategies in hand we need to find ways to transform them, turn them into physical realities. This occurs when we observe what happens while we are in the act of doing what we have decided to focus on. By turning our focus in this way the physicality of what we are ding in our exercises becomes real, it becomes a reality, and so becomes transformed.

And now that this is done we can begin the final stage of our practicing, which is the internalization of those realities, or turning them into reflexes. To do this we need to use our repetitive practicing skills. Meaning, for example, using a metronome or making practice sheets. Anything that your creative mind can conjure up, is valid. This will allow us to stop thinking and simply do it. I mean do we think when we tie our shoes?

And so, this is my explanation of my graph on problem solving. Let’s not forget the six steps: identify, define, explore, develop, transform, internalize.

It is my hope that this brings a clearer focus and understanding to this process.

Automatic video-to-text transcription by DaDaScribe.com

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