This will be shorter than usual.
I'm back from the hospital. I was as sick as I ever remember being. Now my health is restored; I'm at home, waiting for my strength to come back. I feel pretty much like normal except when I stand up or try to think.
There's a writer I follow on Substack named Jonathan Byrd. He's a wonderful songwriter, although songwriting is no longer his main drive. I'm still recovering, so he's unknowingly doing some of the heavy lifting this week. (And thanks again to John Burton, who wrote last week's Substack for me.)
In his recent Substack Thanks for the ladder Byrd writes about parallel experiences he and his son had with education. (Synopsis: two generations of smart guys for whom traditional education was a bad fit. But don't take my word for it. The original is well worth reading (or listening - you have both options.))
I read it and re-read it and wondered: If either of these two non-traditional learners asked me about practicing, would my approach work for them? For that matter, what exactly is my approach?
Short answers:
My approach is, (A) there is some stuff you just have to do, and (B) you can do it any way that works for you, as long as you do it.
Faced with non-traditional learners I'd lead with (B) and pick my moments for (A).
Good practicing is effective and enjoyable: effective meaning it works for you, and enjoyable meaning you like doing it (most days) and you like being someone who does it.
I'm not saying it's easy. As far as I can tell, the best way in is to smile, take charge, jump in with both feet, start making mistakes and keep at it. Don't be afraid of the mistakes. Never lose the smile. Stick with it and you'll figure out what works for you, and what you enjoy doing, and how to balance them.