badhorowitz

To take a cue from your answer - do you find yourself taking this idea of 'practice' into other areas of your everyday life?

What other things do you 'practice'/enjoy getting better at in your own time when you're not playing the violin?

Man that is unreal, and I totally agree! I am a student classical pianist and teacher by trade, and I would definitely say that one of the most useful lessons I have ever received from my instrument is the idea that it really is enough to demand progress from yourself through hard work, without any overarching expectation of success in the future.

I recently moved to one of the best schools for piano in my country, and the impression I've received from all my colleagues is that they are all so very humble because questions of where they are versus the level everyone else is at have all ceased to matter, so long as they are making progress with themselves and practicing hard everyday.