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How Often Do You Practice?
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Subject: How Often Do You Practice? From: Little Neophyte Date: 05 Apr 00 - 11:28 AM It is pretty uncomplicated for me, the more I practice the better a banjo player I become. Easier said than done. But as I gradually etch out more time to practice, it builds on itself. It 'snowballs' into seeking out even more time to practice because I am actually noticing how much I am improving. My mind has also become much more focused on the music and I can see that the music has gradually moved up the scale on my priority ladder. I have increased my practice time from 1/2 hour to 1 hour of practice per day and now I am working on adding another 1/2 hour of practice onto that. When I first started taking up the banjo I had no time to spare for practice but I have gradually been removing many other obligations to find that time. And I am still working that. Maybe not having a family gives me this luxury? I know I've been told just have fun, but part of becoming a better player takes discipline and dedications. Do I find it fun? Yes I do, but I also find a yearning in my heart to learn how to play well and that takes more than just having fun. I am very interesting in knowing how others feel about their approach to practicing. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Hyperabid Date: 05 Apr 00 - 11:41 AM I guess I probably play every night - although I'm not sure this counts as practice. I just strum and twiddle away to amuse myself. I guess in the process I dop get a little better... Hyp |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Mbo Date: 05 Apr 00 - 11:42 AM When I was playing the classical guitar, I used to practice 45 minutes two times a day, every day. Except on lesson days, which were once a week, when I'd play for 3 hours. Of course, two summers ago, it was 4 hours of lesson practice a week instead of 3. --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Bert Date: 05 Apr 00 - 11:50 AM SHUT UP! GO AWAY! DON'T ASK! Bert;-) |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Peter T. Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:01 PM I have almost no time to practice these end-of-term days. Some people seem to be able to go from work and change gears into practising and this change is "as good as a rest". I can't do that -- too exhausted at the end of 12-13 hour days. I have a long runway, I guess. I also don't like taking 10 minutes here, and 10 minutes there, and bringing a guitar to my workplace which is what I suppose I should be doing. I hate having one bleed into the other. I won't eat lunch at my desk, and won't play the guitar at my desk either. In the meantime, I listen to as many records as I can, and do music theory, which seems to be in the same part of my brain as all the rest of this nonsense. It is helpful, I guess, but it isn't practicing. Summer is coming, what more can I say....yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: MK Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:30 PM Minimum an hour a day during weekdays......but sometimes a sum total of 3-4 hours a day. Weekends, at least 3 hours a day. Basically my rule of thumb (no pun intended) when at home, is that if I am not eating, sleeping, on the computer, or spending time with the kids, I have a guitar in my hands.
Funny thing about fingerpicking though. And I always warm up for a minimum of an hour before attempting any recording.
Michael K. |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Rick Fielding Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:37 PM Get up..drink coffee..read newspaper..check "Flamecat"..play instrument..do e-mails..play instrument..contemplate life..play instrument..vacuum teaching studio(1 minute), let cats out..play instrument..make Duckboots' lunch..go for nice walk, rain or shine..if it's Wednesday or Thursday, go downstairs and teach music on and off til 10 pm. If it's not Wednesday or Thursday, sit down at computer and (A), see where I'm getting any airplay..thank DJ, and ask if there are any local folk clubs or concert series' people that might want me to come and play for them.(THIS is what I paid managers and agents for, for so many years???) Play round of computer golf..check Mudcat..argue over day's news with Duckboots.. work on (paying) leather carving projects (straps, cases etc.)..play instrument..make Duckboots' dinner..read interesting websites (current: making of Olivier's 1948 "Hamlet"..pretty doggone good flick) play instrument...go to store to buy drugs (sorry folks, I still smoke) read book,(currently: grim tome about how depressing Glasgow was from 1900 to 1945....Duckboots says "it's gotten much better") decide not to join Duckboots in watching "ER", "The Practice" or "Law and Order"..play instrument,(mandolin) while checking out evening Mudcat..try to remember that even when it's silly or saccarine, or at times really irritating, we're all decent folks, and that many other similar sites are irritating ALL the time...post answers, questions, misunderstood humour, and occasional sarcastic barb...always sign name (no fun otherwise)..play instrument..go to bed..."go to beginning..." Sheesh, what a life! Rick |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: SDShad Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:38 PM I'm with Bert. Seems I never practice these days, and haven't any calluses on my fingertips anymore. Blatantly whining, Chris |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: GUEST,Penny S. (elsewhere) Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:39 PM Not nearly enough - since some time ago when I got a new neighbour downstairs who got really scary about noise - her bedroom was next to my front door and under my living room, and she claimed to be able to hear my clothes brushing the stair wall, and both ends of a telephone call. She would come round shouting. I gave up music- which she never heard, since I didn't dare. Strangely, it wasn't her who complained when the dishy euphonium player started up! And now she has left. And my finger tips are so tender! Penny |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: MMario Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:47 PM I'm vocal only - and try to do some singing anytime I'm In my car, so on a good day, "practice" an hour to an hour and a half. other days, ten minutes. But it's a rare day I don't sing at all... |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Mbo Date: 05 Apr 00 - 12:52 PM As for nowadays, well, is VERY rare to see me WITHOUT a guitar in my hands when I have free time...I'm not sure how many hours that is..just pull out the songbooks and folders and play...and play...and play....Oy, my fingertips are so hard that I once (accidentally) sliced the end with an X-Acto knife (clumsy art student)--no blood, no scar, no cut! BTW do people fingers REALLY bleed if they play too much? I've heard it a lot, but I've never seen it... --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Chocolate Pi Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:01 PM I've taken to carrying my fife around in my backpack and, now that it's warm outside, playing between classes. I try to play flute every day, and often succeed at that. All my playing is strictly for my own amusement; I'm not in any performing groups or planning to play in public besides tootleing on the fife, so practicing feels like giving myself a present. It's suddenly become a great escape and joy to play music, especially when the alternative is eigenvalues and wavefunctions. Chocolate Pi (who is not having fun with quantum mechanics) |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Easy Rider Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:06 PM Keep at it, Little Neo. Regular practice makes all the diference. I leave one guitar in the living room and one by my bedside, upstairs, so whenever I get the urge, there is an instrument nearby. When I practice seriously, it will usually be for about two hours at a time, but I can't get the solitude to do that every day. Often, though, I sit, of an evening, and play and practice, while watching television. My daughter mutes the TV on the commercials, and we break out in song for two or three minutes at a time! Last night, during "NYPD Blue" I worked out a neat little slide for a song I've been playing for about a year or so. A good time to practice is very early in the morning. Sometimes, when I can't sleep, I go downstairs and practice for an hour or so. I make the most progress at those times, and I sleep better afterwards - if I can STOP and go back to bed! It also helps to have at least two new pieces to work on, to keep you fresh and interested. ( [=O=)===={:::] |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Petr Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:10 PM I miss some days but try to play every day. I dont look upon it as practice. As a kid when I practiced for my lessons I only put in a half hour every day and it was pretty much a chore. NOw its just for pleasure, it relieves the stress. I play in the kitchen or bathroom where the sound is better. I believe any playing even just plain noodling is a finger exercise and will make its way into the brain or muscle memory. I do notice that If I dont play for a few days my playing is somewhat better or fresher if you will. So a break is not always a bad Idea. Cheers Petr |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Margo Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:18 PM I stopped exercising to practice my banjo. I guess I'll remain chubby longer..... but I'll be a chub that can play!! :o) Margo |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Gary T Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:21 PM Not enough, and irregularly. That said, I read once that 15 minutes of concentrated, dedicated practice a day is far more productive than 2 hours of fiddling around (what pun?) every few days. The idea of two sessions a day strikes me as a good one (not more time total, but dividing the time into two sessions). I could see using one to "stretch"--trying new and/or not fully mastered things--and one to "solidify"--reinforcing and perfecting things you do well already. |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: DonMeixner Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:23 PM Every day Neo, My wife says every damn day. Don |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Sean Belt Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:28 PM Little Neo, et. al, I picked up a good philosophy on practicing from my banjo teacher a couple of years ago. "Practice music, not minutes." Since then, I never actually apply time constraints to the playing and practicing I do. I just spend as much time as I'm comfortable with on any of the instruments I pick up at a given moment. I've also found that since I have my instruments on stands or hanging on the wall out in the open, rather than in a case, I play them all more frequently.
And yes, Mbo, when I first started learning the guitar one summer vacation many years ago, I did play until my fingers bled. Then I'd tape the tips with gauze and try again. I've since developed good callouses and seen a therapist about that self-destructive streak! :-) Sean |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Mooh Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:42 PM Hi Y'all, I practice everyday for between 10 minutes and a couple of hours. I also just fart around with an instrument in my hands all the time, in front of the tv, as I read Mudcat, as I enjoy listening to and making music. This is only because I have lots of free time. Gigs, recording, rehearsals and jams are extra. I'm privileged and I know it. I will play whatever is handy, compulsively, for any amount of time, even a few seconds, to fill in the time between other things that happen. Peace Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: NancyZ Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:43 PM I usually pick-up the fiddle to play everyday. Never at a certain time and only when time allows, oh and almost always with interuptions! However, if I'm lucky, I'll corral my husband into playing the guitar and before he knows what hit him I have him playing tunes that I like to practice. Poor devil! He rarely complains and I think he even enjoys it most of the time:) |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: BlueJay Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:47 PM Wish I could practice more. Every couple of days if I'm lucky. It's kind of hard working graveyards, then coming home to the kids watching "The Sandlot", (I think my three year old girl's going to end up as a pro baseball player). When my cohorts and I play in public, we generally regard THAT as our practice. Our last big "Gig", we hadn't seen each other in probably a year, and literally had to sing from a lyrics sheet to get through some of the songs. Lousy weather, hence an audience of eight at the most crowded time. Still, the two couples from Albuquerque, (stranded sith a broken down car), had a great time, calling out requests. We didn't get paid much, but we got to stay at a nice resort for free and go fishing the next day. Maybe I'm making excuses, but working graveyard is really unnatural and doesn't lend itself to regular practice, (or regular sleep patterns). |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: vindelis Date: 05 Apr 00 - 01:48 PM Honestly? Not as often as I should, But I do have a couple of 'sessions' a week,and one is definitely of the 'boozy' type, so I suppose that helps. The problem is which instrument? You can only 'play' one at a time, (unless its the pipe and tabor!) |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: GUEST,Neil Lowe Date: 05 Apr 00 - 02:15 PM I play when the urge strikes. That's almost every day. I very seldom practice, per se. Mostly what I do is sit down with a recording and work through the guitar rhythm to a song I like. These songs are for the most part in the I-IV-V genre, generally not much more complicated than 3 or 4 chords. The majority of the time spent learning a song is devoted to memorizing the particular pattern of chords, or (occasionally) picking apart an unfamiliar chord (of the b5sus9/6 family of weird chords). Then I'll spend a few minutes practicing, trying to get my fingers to make the weird chord and working it into the pattern of chord changes. Sometimes it's an inversion that throws me for a loop: damn, I didn't know there was an F#7 up here. If it turns out that a song is more advanced than my playing ability, either I pass on it, hoping to return to it someday when I'm a little better, or I memorize the particular part that's giving me difficulty and practice that for a few minutes each time I pick up the guitar. I'm doing that now with a little melodic run I picked up off a song - each time I pick up the guitar I play that little run for a few minutes hoping I can play it up to speed someday. I don't care if it's tomorrow or years from now. Mainly to stay "connected," I try to play a little every day, even if it's only for 15 minutes. I feel that's important. Often I wish I had more time. Most days I could play 2 or 3 hours, no problem - working through my "repertoire," or learning a new song. If I miss a day of playing, I regret it - weekends and holidays included. Realizing that without concentrated effort focused on playing faster or more accurately, I'll never be very good. But working at it like that takes the fun out of it for me, and I just play for fun. It's enjoyable to sit down at the kitchen table, open the windows, and strum along for a while with some John Prine or Hank/Lucinda Williams tunes, or fingerpick along with "Blind Fiddler," or try to keep up with a bluegrass picker playing "Wabash Cannon Ball." Or fool around with the recording end of it. Little birds are welcome to listen, join in, or fly on by. Playing on stage doesn't particularly appeal to me...recording music for others to hear would be nice, but not nice enough to make me want to break a sweat. It's a nice hobby - keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. Regards, Neil |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: lloyd64 Date: 05 Apr 00 - 02:27 PM Daily...but I'm stuck at a very Eliminatory level, and now I think I'm to old to learn. Young people seek good instruction and practice daily! lloyd62 (was lloyd61 but I got a year older) PS. I did take a handful of Mandolin lessions last year, I thnk it did help, but learning was slow.
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Steve Latimer Date: 05 Apr 00 - 02:38 PM I used to practice the five sting between half and hour and and an hour a day. This stopped almost completely when my first child was born almost ten years ago. Consequently I find when I do pick it up I can't play (was never very good to begin with). Just last week I was at my sisters place, she was playing guitar and I pulled the banjo out and surprised myself a bit. I have vowed to start again. (Sorry world). I have a very hectic schedule so I'm going to try to allow 15-20 minutes a day. Not enough, but a lot better than nothing. A good tip my banjo playing uncle gave me was to leave the instrument in a stand in a place that you spend a lot of your time. If the instrument is visible and accessable you are more likely to pick it up and practice than if you have to find the case, get it out etc. My kids are old enough now that I can start doing this again. |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Ebbie Date: 05 Apr 00 - 02:53 PM I don't practice as such unless we're getting ready for a gig. But I do have a guitar on a stand in the living room and one on a stand in the computer room. The other instruments are on the walls. I have a friend who keeps his guitar on a stand in his bathroom. I'm waiting for the day that I hear music coming from there! Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Rob-IL Date: 05 Apr 00 - 04:00 PM Playing is such an enjoyment.. i do it in any spare time that i have... so i play at least 2 to 3 hours every day... and i find if i leave my guitar out (on its stand) then i can just pick it up to play even for fifteen minutes at a time.... (after all, i do have other things to do)... giving up things like television were easy once i got a guitar... |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Little Neophyte Date: 05 Apr 00 - 04:24 PM Sean Ruprech, I like your point about 'practice music not minutes'. But somehow at the end of the day, I still like to see some kind of concrete marker for me to measure by. Maybe I should just leave it at progress and stop the 'punch clock' measurements. Neil, it is interesting you should mention 'Wabash Cannonball. I play that song often from the Arlo Guthrie/Pete Seeger Precious Friends album just to keep up my 3 finger picking. lloy2, you never to old to learn. Steve Latimer, if I were to keep my banjo in the place I seem to spend a lot of my time, I think I would end up playing a great deal of music in my bed, flat out on my back, serenading the ceiling. Little Neo
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 05 Apr 00 - 06:19 PM Reading Rick's checklist of a day reminded me of a great song of John Kirkpatrick "What do you do in the day?" - which was basically the same kind of list.
He'd been asked the question by someone in an interval at a concert, and the song consisted of John getting himself worked up into a fury at the pest who'd assumed that there wasn't any work behind the performance, and listing all the myriad things that he had to get through in order to be able to stroll on and be spontaneous.
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Penny S. Date: 05 Apr 00 - 06:24 PM And at the end of the evening I realise that I should have practised tonight for hymn practice tomorrow as the pianist won't be there. The school has purchased a set of CD's for our hymn books, but some of the pieces are recorded as if for use by a peculiarly dreary sect of pleasure loathers - at a tempo slightly slower than singable. Or slightly to high to sing. Or both. "The Family of Man" is particularly larynx constricting. Very strange. So I'm going to torture my non-recalloused fingers. Penny |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Gypsy Date: 05 Apr 00 - 11:18 PM I never practice...i only play. So, i get up early for the hammer dulcimer, and play for an hour or two, and i take the mandolin to work, and play when there is idle time. The bodran and dumbek only get used when jamming, and can't do melody or chords. Playing frequently is easier if you are obsessive...i figure that the compulsion will never leave me, so lets channel it into something constructive! |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Rick Fielding Date: 06 Apr 00 - 12:29 AM Ya know Steve's suggestion REALLY works! If I had my instruments in their cases, where they SHOULD be kept, I'd probably play 1/3 of the time. Having them hanging on the downstairs wall and always visible keeps me in the mood for playing. The only ones that don't get a regular workout are the bodrhan (divorce city), the piano accordion (cause I'm lousy...and she knows it) and the washboard (that's even noisier than the other two). The guitars, banjos, mandolins, dobro piano and dulcimer gotta get played though or their feelings get hurt. Rick |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 06 Apr 00 - 01:23 AM I pick a little every day. Always the guitar, sometimes the mandolin, and sometimes the tenor banjo. I don't do a set time but it's usually round an hour. I warm up by picking a few tunes I know well - the Teetotaler's, the Merry Blacksmith, Flowers of Edinburgh, and then I try a new one. At the moment I'm polishing up the Mason's Apron and Chief O'Neill's Favourite on the guitar. Generally I don't put the guitar down until I've played them through a couple of times reasonably smoothly. I do this until I'm pretty familiar with the fingering of the tune. Then a day or so later, I'll try them on the tenor and mandolin, both of which I find easier than the guitar. ALl the best. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Lady McMoo Date: 06 Apr 00 - 06:19 AM I guess I'm like Hyp a bit. I never "practice" as such but I "noodle" for anything between 30 minutes and a couple of hours every day depending on the needs of Clan McMoo. (Lady McMoo: "Oh no...not that damn noodling again...why don't you ever play a real tune...!") I guess my "real tunes" therefore are just connected up noodlings of various types! All the best, mcmoo
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Áine Date: 06 Apr 00 - 10:47 AM (Lady McMoo: "Oh no...not that damn noodling again...why don't you ever play a real tune...!") You know, I can't help but think that there's a song in that line somewhere . . . -- Áine |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Hyperabid Date: 06 Apr 00 - 10:56 AM Guess it would have to start.... (To the tune of Scarboro' Fair)
Have you heard Lady McMoo play? Hyp ;-P |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Rick Fielding Date: 06 Apr 00 - 11:03 AM McMoo, I'm with you! ALL my original tunes are the result of chronic noodling. Must drive folks crazy who want recognizable tunes! Rick |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Jon W. Date: 06 Apr 00 - 11:12 AM Sometimes I'm in playing mode, sometimes I'm in building mode. When I'm in playing mode I practice every day. That's when I learn new tunes. Mostly these days it can only be 15-20 minutes a day. When I'm in building mode, I can only practice maybe once a week, which isn't enough. But since I only play for my own pleasure (with the occasional attempt at a public performance of a song or two just to stretch myself) I do what I feel like doing. I truly believe that a little practice every day is better than a lot of practice once a week and I've tried to hammer that idea into the heads of my violin/cello/viola/piano playing daughters. Right now I'm in building mode, finishing a downstairs workshop where I hope to build banjos, a dulcimer or two, a harp, a resonator guitar, etc. etc. (when I'm not in playing mode). |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: Lady McMoo Date: 06 Apr 00 - 12:05 PM Good idea Aine and thanks for starting something Hyp. I shall reflect and noodle on this further.... mcmoo |
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Subject: RE: How Often Do You Practice? From: GUEST,Paul G on the road... Date: 06 Apr 00 - 12:13 PM Every day when there is no gig...10 minutes of "techinical" exercise (warms me up and reminds my fingers where they belong) -- probably 15 or 20 minuets running through bits and pieces of "old" songs (enough to keep them close to the surface and unforgotten) -- maybe another 30 minutes cleaning up newer stuff -- then whatever energy I have left in general noodling (which is where most of my original tunes originate)or working on lyrics...Gig days are spent working up set lists and trying to remember the chords and words, plus the pasychological preparation for dealing with the inevitable embarrassment of forgetting them anyway... pg |
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