Quiz: What's Your Learning Engine?
Do you sometimes have to drag yourself into the practice room, but other times can’t wait to get started?
Do you sometimes feel a powerful drive to learn, but other times struggle to make yourself care?
And are you never sure which version of yourself is going to show up?
If this sounds familiar, you might benefit from identifying your learning engine– the experience or goal that best motivates you.
Yes, each of us is unique– but in my many years of teaching, I’ve found that most students tend to fall into one of four motivational categories. Identifying yours can be powerful– you’ll be able to harness your natural tendencies to move forward with more efficiency and speed. (You may find multiple things motivating, but in my experience, one tends to predominate.)
Is this scientific? Absolutely not. Is it useful? I think so! Is there a super fun quiz I just made up? Of course!
Ready to identify your learning engine and harness your drive? Answer these five questions as honestly as you can.
I experience the most musical satisfaction when I:
Play through a piece I know and play well
Gain confidence with a newer fingering system
Get together to make music with my friends
Immerse myself in a new musical style
I’m most proud of myself when I:
Nail a piece in performance
Finish the last exercise in the book
Hold down my section in recorder orchestra
Learn something new about music theory
A great musical afternoon would be:
Playing through the pieces I love best
Trying a piece I previously struggled with and noticing how far I’ve come
Recorder reading party, with snacks!
Plunging into original notation!
I struggle the most when:
The piece I’m trying to play is beyond my current abilities
I don’t think I’m getting anywhere
There’s no one to play with
We just play the same old stuff
A terrific musical gift for me would be:
A fine, handmade version of my favorite instrument
The next size up or down I need to learn– I’m ready!
A contrabass I can bring to my ensemble
A big stack of music and books I’ve never seen before
ANSWER KEY:
Mostly 1s: Your learning engine is MASTERY
You love the experience of doing something you’re good at. You like to feel relaxed and confident when you’re playing, and you find pleasure in producing sounds you enjoy. Best of all is when you don’t even have to think about what you’re doing! On the flip side, you may struggle with struggle: If something is difficult for you, it may be harder for you to engage with it productively.
How to harness MASTERY: Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time during your practice sessions to enjoy playing things you’re good at, and use this time as a reward for tackling thornier musical tasks. You may also benefit from adding structure and accountability (courses, webinars, workshops, lessons) around tasks that are harder for you, as these additional supports can help you move beyond your comfort zone. (For what it’s worth, this is my own engine, so the advice is personal!)
Mostly 2s: Your learning engine is PROGRESS
You love the experience of moving forward toward your goals. The process of step-by-step improvement feels empowering, particularly when you are able to see or hear how far you’ve come. Learning each new note on the recorder was a joy! On the flip side, you may begin to run aground when progress becomes less linear and straightforward and more dispersed and granular– as it will once you’re no longer a beginner.
How to harness PROGRESS: You will benefit from good record keeping in your practice, both written and aural. This will help you look and listen back and reflect on how far you’ve come! It will also behoove you to break larger goals into small, achievable steps you can progress though. And finally, you may derive motivation from accessing an established curriculum, such as the ABRSM graded coursework or the American Recorder Society’s Personal Study Program (must be a member to access).
Mostly 3s: Your learning engine is COMMUNITY
You love the experience of playing in community, of being a part of something bigger than yourself. You like to feel useful in a group, and will gravitate toward whatever role you feel benefits the whole. Playing with others drives you to be a better musician and you want to improve your skills so you can increase your value to the group. On the flip side, you may struggle to stay motivated when you’re on your own.
How to harness COMMUNITY: Find or make as many group playing opportunities as you can. Consider adopting group goals, in which each member of the community is working toward the same thing. Look for music you’d be excited to play in a group, and choose something you know will challenge you. Attend workshops and join your local chapter.
Mostly 4s: Your learning engine is DISCOVERY
You love the experience of learning something new. Acquiring knowledge and engaging with new concepts are motivating for you, and you enjoy integrating new information into your existing knowledge frameworks. You like to delve into the historical context of the music you’re playing, and may enjoy learning new notational systems or theory concepts. On the flip side, you may struggle to find motivation to polish or perfect pieces you already know, and repetitive technical work may feel like a chore.
How to harness DISCOVERY: Use your love of learning to motivate your practice by seeking out and immersing yourself in new musical worlds. Tackle repetitive work at the beginning of your practice session, when you’re fresh and energetic, and reward yourself with new material. If you’re learning a new piece on your own, allow yourself to engage comprehensively with it, placing it in historical context, listening to it, reading about it, etc.