Good article, i discovered it right after i bought my violin (could have been after i got a viola, can't remember). I think you can apply these tips to learning, say, rust programming, or convex optimization. I also think a random beat generator is sort of similar to backing tracks i record in Garage band or ableton, and you should leave pieces/charts you're learning out on the stand next to your computers, and look at them often, 5x/hour.

Another tip, always remember the first time you tried to play a clarinet, cello or violin (if you can). Those for me were special moments.

Here's some other (comprehensive) books about practicing, which go from mechanical prescriptions about washing hands and brushing teeth beforehand, to the zen, in the vein of the motorcycle and archery books, like long tones/long bows/drone notes/son filé (the last is Galamian's term, his violin technique book highly recommended).

Kenny Werner, http://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Liberating-Master-M... (recommends pianists practice long tones ?!)

Sterner: http://www.amazon.com/The-Practicing-Mind-Developing-Discipl...

Bruser: http://artofpracticing.com/book/ (Gerald Klickstein' book is also good, i remember)

Julie Lieberman has soem good violin-specific eg http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=6954...

OT: I am not a musician, still kick myself for giving up piano lessons after only a couple years. I believe that anyone who writes software can learn from how musicians practice and get better and don't or do get in a creative/skills/motivation/passion/Groundhog-Day rut...

One of the most interesting books I have in my library is "Effortless Mastery". Recommended by a musician and artist.

http://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Liberating-Master-M...

Music performance is one of the hardest things to be satisfied with every time... I recommend this book. It talks about perfection and fear and inadequacy. Just took it off my bookshelf to random-access read again.

http://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Kenny-Werner/dp/156...