Practicing -- Redefined

I recently read a post from a college friend of mine.

Amateurs practice until they get it right,
Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

This quote is actually very profound.

I have also recently reviewed "the basics" with an ex teacher. He reminded me that practicing is not about pounding through passages until they are tenderized. Joe Murphy, Sax Professor from Mansfield, has a pretty neat rule -- 4 times! While I may be interpreting this differently than intended, 4 times through with no success -- you are doing something wrong. Today, I tried this on a defined passage -- it works. Before playing a note, preparing the passage includes various activities. Then, play. Then, hone the passage, then play, etc. The 4th time through should be fairly up to your tempo and musical goals. If not, the piece may be too hard.

So, combining these two principals, being a professional means that after four times through, if you can't play it -- you will not be viewed as a professional. So, being professional is not about playing a certain level of music. It is about practicing so that you can not get something wrong, in a set amount of time, at a certain level.

We can all aim to be professional - it is in our control. We just need to redefine our practicing according to solid, proven philosophies.