Congratulations, Dave.

I just read a book on how to study, and I think it applies to practicing as well. The book said to study for 25 minutes, then take a break for five. If you have been studying something you dislike, then give yourself a little reward.

During the 25 minutes, the focussed, analyzing part of the brain works hard but with a narrow field of view. During the break, the brain broadens its scope, formulating the big picture and pulling in resources that you had no idea could help.

Another thing the book said: if you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a bread. Frustration interferes with learning.