The journey of continuous improvement toward excellence, is in the reach of so-called ordinary people who have the intrinsic motivation, learning and practice behaviours, the character - including a dogged persistence, and the willingness to spend the time, to succeed. Presented in a student-friendly manner, this course will encourage and assist students to be proactive in their pursuit of improvement.
Skill improvement and development increases with the quantity and quality of practice time. Achievement in any domain, however, is underpinned by another set of core skills. Why is it that some people are motivated to work harder and for longer? How do they ignore distractions? How do people cultivate a mindset of determination, perseverance, and self-discipline? First and foremost is motivation.
The course also affirms the place of character traits. Attitude can determine the consequences of a predicament and can even transform what seems to be a crisis into an opportunity. Indeed, the Chinese character for crisis includes both danger and opportunity. Persevering in the face of adversity builds character. Yet many people quit a challenge too easily, too quickly. The old adage holds true - a quitter never wins and a winner never quits. Perseverance is about finishing tasks and is critical for long-term achievement. What encourages perseverance? Having a growth mindset, the belief in improvement through personal effort rather than natural talent. Virtuosity is attainable if you are prepared to do the work.
Central to this course is the how of skill development: types of repetition, working in chunks, recognising patterns, and when appropriate, practising movements slowly. Understanding these skill development techniques is common for the development of all skills.