How Do You Know You’re Ready to Move to the Next Lesson?

How Do You Know You’re Ready to Move to the Next Lesson? This question might feel similar to wondering when a painting is finally complete or if a composition needs one more touch. It’s about figuring out whether you’ve done everything you can or if moving on would mean leaving something unfinished.

I don’t mean to stir up any existential crises with these questions. While there’s no universal answer, I’ve designed a straightforward way to help you decide. Under each lesson, you’ll find a section with clear milestones across typically 3 levels. I encourage you to aim for checking off all the boxes at each level. Usually, the final level involves playing a piece 2 or 3 times in a row without mistakes, and doing so musically and effortlessly.

This idea aligns with the famous saying: Don’t practice until you get it right; practice until you can’t get it wrong. Being able to play something perfectly 3 times in a row strikes a reasonable balance – it’s neither too little nor too much to demonstrate proficiency.

For improvisation, the criteria are slightly different but still straightforward. If you can improvise in the style asked for in the lesson, maintaining a steady groove for 2-3 minutes, then you’re ready to tackle the next lesson.