Be a gardener.

I don't know how to tell if a practicing session was productive. I don't even know if that's a meaningful question to ask.

Most of the improvements you make in practicing take weeks or months to develop. Then, one day or one week, they show up. A breakthrough! Good, right? Yes, but.

Breakthroughs in playing are often temporary; they can come and go before they become permanent. More to the point, the effort that leads to them occupies many practicing sessions.

Breakthroughs in understanding are more sticky. They can be infrequent, though, and they also take a while. They don't necessarily indicate progress in playing, either.

Breakthroughs are great, of course. They're satisfying and inspiring, and we want them to happen. But they're random. They emerge from effort, but not on any predictable timetable. And they wobble on their feet like baby horses when they first arrive. We're glad when they happen, but they don't indicate productivity.

All right – what about learning songs? Does learning a song mean a practicing session was productive? Again, it's a good thing when you learn a song, but it likely took place over several sessions. Also, a lot depends on what you mean when you say “I learned a song.” Does that mean:

• I can play it perfectly three times in a row on three non-consecutive days?

• I can play it in all twelve keys?

• I can play it perfectly without the music?

• Not only can I play it right, I can not play it wrong?

• I can perform it easily in front of an audience?

Your own definition of “learned” is whatever you want it to be. You can see, though, that any of these definitions would probably take more than one practice session to satisfy.

So?

Rather than “Was I productive?,” ask, “How well did I practice?” You have 100% control of how well you practice, and 0% control of whether you have a breakthrough. What matters most on a day-to-day basis is how well you worked your process. Did you show up on time? Did you keep your head on straight? Did you follow your plan? Was your effort consistently intentional? Did you stay with it when you got tired? Did you get yourself back on track when your attention wandered? Breakthroughs and milestones are great; they're flowers that grow because you tend your garden.

But you're not a flowerer. You're a gardener. Tend your garden and don't worry about flowers. Dig. Water. Nurture. Weed. Get out there every day and get your hands dirty. That's what you can control. That’s where the fun and the satisfaction are. That's what you are actually doing. Be a gardener.