The beauty of repetition
copyright: Dorothée King
Currently I am researching learning methods and theories to understand learning in arts and design practices. I am wondering what different methods are out there and if one could exchange different learning practices to learn even more in different disciplines. Learning about varying techniques and methods from architecture to zoology is very inspiring, but recently I asked myself: Maybe we shouldn’t focus on techniques or methods, it might be more fitful to spend time on the time we spend with learning.
Apparently the Beatles had to practice for 10.000 hours to become really good at what they are doing, which was playing pop music. Their catchy tunes prove that repeating the same thing over and over again does make a difference in depth, accuracy, and intention. In the last decades after conceptual arts was invented, repetition got a bad reputation in the art world. I see a lot of artists and art students who try to deliver a convincing piece with one single attempt. Me too, I am so impatient that I always only want to give my writings or drawings just one try. Sometimes brilliancy does happen by chance. Most of the time it doesn’t. While teaching art in the US I met a lot of International students from Asia, most of them had practiced drawing and/or software skills for 10.000 hours at least. They had experience through repeating. These students had practiced drawing in the same way as someone would play the piano for hours to be a successful pianist. I have to admit those students' brains and hands were trained in a complete different way than the American students' (who rather hung out partying - excuse this cliche).
I want to look at learning and repetition from a different angle: One of my loves in life is Asthanga Yoga. In Ashtanga yoga our teachers say: Practice, practice and all is coming. Students repeat the same sequence of postures every single day. The same posture every day for years. This practice taught me not to be thrilled, when I finally manage to brezel myself into a certain pose. I am more excited about the state of mind I have through the repetitive time I spent on my mat.
Maybe it is learning as an activity we should focus on and not the technique, media, methods or results connected to learning. Maybe we have to allow art students more time to repeat. Maybe we should give credits for hours not outcomes?