Tired of discouraging, confidence-sapping practice sessions? The “5 Whys” technique could help turn things around.
Every child seems to go through a phase in toddlerhood where they respond to everything you say with the question “why?”
I’m not sure if they do this because they genuinely want to know why Target closes at 10pm, or why they can’t skip school on their birthday, or why Daddy does not like eating fermented soybeans. Or if they simply enjoy watching us squirm.
Annoying though this can be, the question “why” is actually a useful tool in the practice room. Haven’t you ever gotten discouraged about a note you just don’t seem to be able to hit? Or an aria that just seems consistently inconsistent?
Sometimes the right questions can make all the difference, and “why” is a good place to start.
How so?
Cause and effect
Every glitch in one’s singing has an underlying cause.
As obvious as that might sound, when we struggle with something that is challenging, it’s easy to forget and simply conclude “I suck” or “I can’t do this.”
These statements might feel true in the moment, but the problem is that they’re a dead end when it comes to finding way to improve. I mean, what is the solution for “I suck?” Play it again, but don’t suck this time?
Though such critical statements naturally and automatically pop into our stream of thoughts, they only leave us feeling discouraged, and more likely to give up and question our abilities.
The 5 whys
Rather than letting the tricky section get you down, try experimenting with a technique from the business world called the “5 Whys” that could spare you some frustration and discouragement.
The 5 Whys technique is based on the premise that underlying the missed notes and other technical glitches, is a root cause. That there is something you are doing (or not doing) that produces the undesirable result you are getting – but which may not be immediately apparent.
And when it comes to creating a recipe for frustration, there’s nothing quite like diving in to fix the problem without first taking a moment to identify the underlying cause.
As one of my advisors in grad school liked to say, “If you misdiagnose the problem, you’re probably going to misdiagnose the solution.”
Often, “diagnosing” the problem is not nearly as difficult as you might think. And once you’ve identified the root cause, you will be able to identify the solution – and once you’ve got the solution, frustration recedes into the background.
Focus on solutions, not problems
Say you botched a note, and the voice in your head says “I suck.”
The first step is to shift your focus away from “I suck,” and instead direct your line of questioning to “I cracked the C.”
Beginning with the question “Why did I crack the C?”, keep asking the question “why?” until you arrive at the root technical cause of the cracked note. It may not even take you 5 whys. It might only take 2 or 3. Or it may take 7.
What did you do that resulted in the cracked note? Did you tighten up? Forget to do something important with your breathing or technique? Maybe you were thinking about the wrong thing? Or was it fatigue? Lack of preparation or proper warm-up?
Once you have the answer, it’s just a matter of implementing the solution. The solution may not be an instantaneous fix, but at least you’re headed in the right direction, focused on solutions, instead of beating yourself up.
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Performance psychologist and Juilliard faculty member Dr. Noa Kageyama blogs at The Bulletproof Musician and teaches musicians how to beat performance anxiety and play their best under pressure through live classes, coachings, and an online course. Based in NYC, he is married to a terrific pianist, has two hilarious kids, and is a wee bit obsessed with technology and all things made by Apple.
