Isolate, Drill, Expand

What is the practice technique I use most often? I call it "isolate, drill, expand." Basically, find what the trouble spot (ie where you keep messing up) and isolate it. What exactly are you playing wrong? Is it the wrong note? The wrong rhythm? Everything? Determine the mistake and figure out how to fix it. Drill the corrected passage, that is, play it correctly multiple times. NOTE: you will use other practice techniques during this time. You may be clapping the rhythm. You may be executing the leap multiple times in a row. Just make sure that you get to the point where you can play it correctly multiple times in a row. Then expand, back up a little bit and get into the trouble spot. Did you play it correctly? Great. If not, drill it from the new starting point. Expand some more, go past the trouble spot. Keep working your way out from the trouble spot and drilling as needed as you go. Added bonus, in the expand phase, you are also practicing your trouble spot multiple times. It sounds like this a long process, but depending on the complexity and the practice strategies you use during the drilling phase, it could really only take minutes. In fact, this is a great time saver because you focus on the parts that really need the work so you can play the whole passage or piece much more easily.