The Neuroplasticity Revolution: How Varied Practice Transforms Learning in Music, Movement, and Beyond

When I was six years old, my mom enrolled me in piano lessons after I spent months experimenting on a piano in a nearby church. The church was a quiet, open cathedral, and I had the whole place to myself—a perfect space to explore sound, take my time, and discover notes and chords. My parents were just down the street, shoveling years of pigeon poo out of an old power plant they were renovating into a public art space. So, I had plenty of time.

But when I started formal lessons, that freedom vanished. Instead of exploring, I had to practice specific pieces and read music, which completely drained all the fun.

So instead of following the sheet music, I listened closely to how my teacher played, and I could find the notes by ear on my own. The music on the page became just a quick reference, something I could toss aside once I’d figured out how to make it sound right by feel. Though the goal was to teach me to read music, what I really learned was how to play music without reading it. Years later, I had a career as a professional musician and composer for over a decade, without ever reading a single note of music. (I called it my dirty little secret.)

That early experience taught me the power of variation and exploration over strict repetition. It’s the same concept I bring into movement learning today: by letting the brain experience small variations, we allow learning to unfold naturally and more deeply than through rigid practice alone.

But how does that work? That’s what I wanted to know. Here’s what I learned.

Discovering Movement and Music: Why Variation Beats Repetition for Learning

When it comes to learning a new skill, whether it’s playing an instrument or improving movement, we often hear that “practice makes perfect.” But does it really? There are two very different ways to approach practice: the traditional, Pavlovian way, and a lesser-known but powerful approach inspired by the work of Nikolai Bernstein, a pioneering scientist in movement learning. Bernstein’s ideas flip the script on traditional repetition, focusing instead on the concept of variation as a way to optimize learning.

Let’s explore these approaches and see why introducing variation might be the game-changer you need in your movement, music, or any learning practice.

Pavlovian Practice: Repetition Without Change

The Pavlovian model of learning, named after the famous scientist Ivan Pavlov, is what we often think of as “drill” practice. In this approach, you repeat the same movement or musical phrase over and over again, aiming to “train” the body and brain to memorize it. Much like Pavlov’s famous dogs learned to associate a bell with food, Pavlovian learning relies on simple repetition to create a learned response. The idea is that the more you repeat something in the exact same way, the more your brain will “lock in” that movement or skill.

While this kind of repetition might get us more familiar with a movement, it has serious limits. Repeating the same thing over and over doesn’t actually give the brain a lot of useful information. The brain thrives on newness and adaptability, and pure repetition doesn’t give it much to work with. This is where Bernstein’s approach changes the game.

The Bernsteinian Approach: Embracing Variation

Nikolai Bernstein saw movement learning in a completely different light. Instead of viewing the body as a machine that needs to be programmed through endless repetition, Bernstein believed the body and brain work together dynamically, constantly responding to small variations in our environment and within our own bodies. Rather than aiming to replicate the same movement every time, he suggested that learning comes from exploring small, purposeful variations.

In the Bernsteinian model, practicing is about understanding a range of movement possibilities rather than locking into a single “correct” way. When you add slight variations into your practice, your brain is engaged in problem-solving, constantly adjusting and learning from each variation. This process gives the brain much richer information to work with, allowing it to build a broader, more adaptable skill set.

Why Variation Works: Feeding the Brain

Think about the difference between playing the same musical phrase identically versus experimenting with tempo, volume, or phrasing. Or, in movement terms, consider repeating a motion but with slight changes in speed, direction, or range of motion. When you introduce these small variations, you’re giving your brain a “feast” of new information.

Variation strengthens learning because it teaches the brain how to adapt to slightly different situations. If you’re always practicing with minor changes, you’re better prepared to perform in real-world situations where things aren’t perfectly controlled. This approach doesn’t just build a skill—it builds confidence in the ability to handle variations in the environment.

Repetition with Variation: The Key to Lasting Learning

Bernstein’s perspective offers us a powerful takeaway: it’s not about choosing between repetition and variation, but about using repetition with variation. Practicing with variation gives the brain a wide map of possibilities, helping it to adapt, adjust, and perform the skill even when conditions change. This adaptability is crucial not just in movement but also in life. It’s what helps musicians play confidently in new environments, and what allows people to move with ease and confidence, even in challenging conditions.

So, next time you practice a new skill—whether it’s a musical piece or a movement pattern—try adding a little variation. Change up the tempo, adjust the range, or modify the rhythm. You’ll be helping your brain absorb the skill in a deeper, more flexible way, creating lasting learning that goes beyond simple repetition.

Wrapping Up: The Confidence to Learn Smarter, Not Harder

At its heart, Bernstein’s approach to learning empowers us to move beyond robotic repetition into a space of exploration and adaptability. By embracing variation, you’re not only making practice more engaging but also setting yourself up for greater success. Whether you’re learning to play a song or move in a new way, give your brain the freedom to explore—it’s the key to truly mastering your skills.

So, next time you practice, remember: it’s not about “perfect” repetition but learning through variation. By allowing for small changes, you’re creating a stronger, more adaptable skill set that can truly carry over to the real world. By the way, variation is one of the 9 essentials of  the NeuroMovement^Ⓡ Method, our special sauce here at the Moovy Studio.

So, what do you want to learn to do better?