I've thought about this for years, since hearing about Gladwell's 10khrs rule. I recently started reading <i>The Inner Game of Tennis</i>, and I think it's clarified what's going on here. It's obvious the trend is related to <i>physical</i>, not intellectual, skills. Playing violin, soccer, archery, etc. The 'deliberate practice' concept basically boils down to clearing up interference between Self 1 & Self 2 [1]. You have to maintain the constant feedback loop, where you are aware of what you are playing, you hear the notes, and you make small adjustments to Self 1. The opposite of this, the useless kind of practice, is where you tell Self 2 to shut up and keep making endless adjustments, never <i>listening</i> to the feedback.<p>This state of mind, 'conscious unconsciousness', trains your Self 2 to execute. I don't know why it takes so long for the subconscious to learn, but muscle memory does develop.<p>Most people think these people are training their Self 1, as if studying music theory will guide their hand, unconsciously, up the scales. It doesn't work that way. You can't memorize a compound bend on guitar, you can't memorize a double stop on a violin. Self 1, as important as it imagines itself, cannot play music all by itself. There are far too many notes in any song to consciously focus on each one as it passes. You have to rely on muscle memory to get you through.<p>Keeping that feedback loop open is about as hard as maintaining averted vision in the night sky. Or staring into a Magic Eye. You've got to relax <i>and</i> focus.<p>[1] you'll have to read the book. Self 1 observes & directs, Self 2 executes. Roughly, Self 1 is conscious, Self 2 is subconscious.