Book Summary: Atomic Habits (from a musician’s perspective)

Atomic Habits has been reviewed and written about so many times. YouTubers refer to it on a daily basis in videos, making author James Clear a popular name. Anyone interested in productivity and bettering themselves has, or should read this book. I wanted to discuss some of the main points in Atomic Habits, knowing they have been summarised on every online platform available, but from a musician’s perspective. Can musicians make use of simple habits to make productive and desirable changes in their playing and performing?

Students often ask: how are you so good at playing? The answer is simple, and yet no one wants to hear it and let alone believe it. That answer is practice. Myself and all professional musicians have spent years of practicing each day, making small incremental improvements that have led to where we are today. Many young students want a magic solution to make them instantly better, but unfortunately the road is long and needs the discipline for consistency. This is where the power of small habits comes in.

“Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits.” James Clear.

Atomic Habits in 4 main points:

1. Make it obvious

2. Make it attractive

3. Make it easy

4. Make it satisfying

Make it obvious

Students should know what they're practicing. What are they working on for that week? It could be a piece. It could be a technique. Often it is several things combined. Take notes during lessons, and look at the notes your teacher leaves too. Working on the things that your teacher has said needs improving is the first step to success.

Make it attractive

Practice isn't attractive. At least it doesn't seem to be for many students. When I was a student and to this day, I love practicing. I see it as my excuse to be with my guitar and get better so I can play the pieces I want to play. There are many ways to make practice attractive and a lot of this comes down to the positivity and encouragement of those around you. Teachers should be very encouraging and passionate for their instrument and teaching, parents should want their kids to practice, and if you are involved with peers then this is a great way to promote reasons to practice. Maybe consider joining an ensemble?

Make it easy

There are several ways to make practice easier. I've had students tell me before they find it easier to start practicing if their guitar is left out rather than in their case. Seeing their guitar sparks something in them that makes them want to play. Maybe only do this if it isn't an expensive guitar, otherwise keep it in its case.

The same can be said for the space in which you practice. Keep a separate space that is dedicated for practicing where you have a chair, music stand, your music, metronome and anything else all set up at all times.

Make it satisfying

Satisfaction can come from seeing yourself improve over time. Unfortunately, this can take a long time because improvements are so incremental and as human beings we want instant results. There are ways to reward yourself for meeting your practice goals to keep you on track and more likely to practice again next time. An example of this is restricting video game time until after completing practice, or considering a reward for finishing practice such as watching an episode of your favourite television show.

These 4 points are the building blocks for establishing a successful habit. If we want to make practice a habit then it needs to be obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. This isn’t to say that starting a habit is easy. Often it takes a lot of willpower to get the ball rolling, but once you’ve started a habit it is a lot easier to keep it going. With the proper routines in place, and the correct practice techniques, all musicians, professional or student, should be practicing consistently.

There are so many good quotes from Atomic Habits but I will leave you here with one that I think applies very well to how a musician practices:

“The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improve it by one percent, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together.” James Clear.

All the best for now - see you in the next blog!