Practice doesn't always make perfect.
- bolognanimethode
- 3 jul
- 2 min de lectura
Actualizado: 29 jul
There is a widespread belief in music education that the more you practice, the better your results will be.
But in reality, that's not always true.
Have you ever had a student who practices a lot, is highly motivated, and still doesn't seem to make progress?
Sometimes, the real obstacle lies in the development of the nervous system.
Primitive reflexes are automatic movement patterns that we are all born with. They play a fundamental role during the first months of life: helping babies survive, explore their environment, and build the foundations for voluntary movement.
As the brain matures, these reflexes should become integrated. In other words, they stop being triggered automatically, allowing movements to become increasingly precise, coordinated, and independent.
When a primitive reflex remains active beyond early childhood, it can interfere with skills that may seem completely unrelated—even with learning a musical instrument.
One example is the Babkin reflex.
This reflex creates a neurological connection between the hands and the mouth. In infants, this is completely normal: stimulating the palms of the hands triggers movements of the mouth or jaw.
However, if it remains active years later, it can appear in very subtle ways during a violin lesson. You may notice students who:
clench their jaw when a passage becomes difficult;
stick out their tongue or move their lips while trying to play;
struggle with finger independence because the effort of the hands is still neurologically linked to the muscles of the mouth.
This doesn't mean they lack talent, motivation, or practice.
It means their nervous system is still relying on very early movement patterns.
When we learn to recognize these signs, we stop simply saying, "Practice more," and begin to understand why that student is struggling with certain skills.
Because teaching an instrument also means understanding how the brain develops.
Find our teachers resources in the Bolognani-Methode store.
Valeria Bolognani 3.7.26. Vienna, Austria.
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