j.a.marohn
friday morning at home
To achieve a level of expert performance in relation to a particular task, pundits and self-help gurus delight in telling us, requires (on average) the devotion of at least 10,000 hours of sustained, focused practice. This goes for chess players, athletes, mathematicians, surgeons—and musicians. Having been spoken, the number acquires a certain mystical quality. It becomes a promise, a forecast, a prediction. You’re a pianist with only 9,999.5 hours under your belt? Oh! Sorry! Greatness hasn’t arrived with you yet. I’ll be back in half an hour.
Listen, I’m not saying I don’t believe it. I’ve got 10,000 hours on the brain, too. I’m counting down till I get my expertise. But in the meantime, hey. It goes a little faster, doesn’t it, if you do it in the evening, in the golden lamplight, with a yellow cat beside you who isn’t keeping track of the time?
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