Deliberate practice
A large volume of research has shown that acquiring expertise in any domain is heavily influenced by the amount of deliberate practice (DP) the performer engages in over time. This chapter provides an overview of Ericsson’s highly influential theory of deliberate practice (DP) and argues that DP is essential if performers are to maintain and improve their skill levels over time. One of the primary goals is to distinguish between mechanical practice and DP. In doing so, the chapter posits that mechanical practice involves mindless repetition of well-learned skills while DP involves the use of reflective and self-regulatory processes to identify and correct errors (movement patterns that produce undesirable motor outputs) and to inspire exploratory behaviour. The chapter also argues that DP activities are often characterized by experimentation, playfulness, and enjoyment and that these are important components of expertise because they increase one’s motivation or desire to stick with difficult tasks.