for the lifelong learners building a skill without a coach
Goal
Mix three sub-skill drills in one sprint so discrimination, not just repetition, gets trained.
Source principle
Interleaving: mixing sub-skill drills inside one session forces you to choose the right move, which transfers better to real performance than blocked drilling. : from Make It Stick by Brown, Roediger & McDaniel.
The plan
- 📋0:00-0:05List 3 sub-skills of the skill you're building. e.g. scales, arpeggios, rhythm.
- 🎲0:05-0:10Pick one drill per sub-skill. Shuffle into one mixed deck.
- 🔀0:10-0:25Cycle 1: 5 min per sub-skill, switch every drill. No clustering.
- 🚩0:25-0:30Mark which sub-skill felt weakest in the mix. That's the target.
- 🎯0:30-0:45Cycle 2: drills on the weak sub-skill only, mixed difficulty.
- 💧0:45-0:50Water break. Off the instrument or tool.
- 🔁0:50-1:05Cycle 3: full mix again. Did the weak link improve?
- 💡1:05-1:15Reflect: which cue tells you which sub-skill a problem needs? Write it.
- 📝1:15-1:25Log: drills done, weak link, tomorrow's focus.
- 📅1:25-1:30Schedule tomorrow's mixed-deck sprint. Same 3 sub-skills.