Quality vs. Quantity

How do you workout? Do you involve weights? Do you have constant repetitive movements? 

All of these questions could be asked about your cello practice sessions. At CrossfitRx, as clients, we can choose from a list of different session times to do our W.O.D. (Workout Of the Day). You arrive on time to do some "warm-up" movements to prevent injury in the W.O.D. e.g., air squats, row 500 meters, and/or sit-ups. After the warm-up the group is gathered and instructed on how to properly perform the W.O.D. with a significant stress on how form should be your constant concern not on how many weight plates you can stack or how big your kettlebell is compared to someone else's kettlebell. 

How do you practice your instrument? Do you repeat a section multiple times? Do you just play the dots on the page and ignore dynamics?

There's a "cello posture" form that must be carried in practice sessions or orchestra rehearsal sessions. Form is more important than how many notes you play or how quickly you play them. Strive for quality over quantity. 

If you're getting all the dots or all the dynamics on the page but you're struggling with vibrato due to poor left hand posture/form, were the notes worth your pain? What if your lower back is hurting from orchestra rehearsal because you wanted to look more like you were "feeling the music" than your other cello section members and you moved and pulled a back muscle? None of those moments are worth your pain. Like some of my CrossfitRx coaches say, "Don't be a hero."  Think about it, would you want a "hero"to rescue you with a bad back and sore arms?  Practice or workout properly so something doesn't turn into months of pain.