If you’ve been feeling stagnant in your practicing for the past few months or longer, make 2020 the year of better mental models in your practice.

Over on his blog, Jason Haaheim (principal timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) has great blog article about why good mental models are so important for both practicing and for auditioning, how to do them, and why he’s never satisified with his own playing.

You can read his in-depth blog entry about mental models here.

It’s a long read, but it’s well worth it. If you’re looking for even more about the idea of mental representations and their usefulness and power, I suggest the following books (in no particular order):

• Peak by Anders Ericsson
• The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
• Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

Any (or all) of these three books are a great read to jump-start your motivation into 2020.