Have you ever noticed that traditional school doesn't really teach students how to learn? Of course, teachers present the facts, figures, and formulas as effectively as they can.
But, how often do educators teach students how to prepare for the exam? Or, how to learn the material in a way that it will stick and matter?
Welcome to meta-learning. It's really cool.
Meta-learning is learning about learning. Learning how your brain ticks. Learning how you learn. Learning how to upgrade your skills in learning. It's different for everyone.
We don't use the word very much, but meta-learning happens in music all the time. The successful music student must self-evaluate, adjust, and become aware of his or her best learning practices.
Even professional musicians need to gauge how they learn best, and experiment on themselves accordingly.
It may be changing the time of day of practicing, the intervals of time spent practicing, or any other combination of factors that create the most effective learning experience.
If we get a C on the exam, let's not study harder and become stressed. Let's reflect on how we learn and try to learn better on the next go-around. That's where the magic is.
Learn how to do algebra, and you will learn to solve for X. Learn how to learn, and you will learn anything you want for the rest of your life.