How much time do you spend practicing?

This topic has 20 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 3 months ago by AJ_Lenzie.

Post

- February 27, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Rick Graham
Member

Of late I never seem to find the time to practice much. I would say that on average I practice about an hour every other day, although I often go a week without playing.
What about you guys?

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- March 15, 2008 at 9:49 am
Rick Graham
Member

Some interesting words on practice from Marty Friedman:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHInnT_J4Q
- March 15, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Mike Edwin
Member

Spot on!

As much as I agree with this on the basis that it will keep you motivated, as well as the fact that your always going to be having fun. Depending on your goals as a musician, sometimes it is important to venture out and learn music from other genres. Even if they don’t particularly take your fancy.

My reasoning for this is 1) You may over time find that you actually DO like that new genre. Or that there is something within that style which you can put to use in your own music.

For me an example of this was when I began rehearsing with Big Band’s. It’s still Jazz and I love Jazz, but that combination didn’t really do it for me. Over time though, It grew on me. More importantly, the simple act of listening and observing how the big horn sections were used to harmonize melodies actually gave me insight into new ways of harmonizing when playing guitar.

The same goes for rhythmic ideas. Often the main thing that defines one style of music from another is its rhythmic approach. So even just spending time listening to other styles of music once in a while could really open some doors to your playing.

Overall though, I very much agree with what Marty is saying. Do what you love, and you will always love it.
- March 15, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Robert Mussatti
Member

@Richard Lundmark 941 wrote:

When I first started out,
I practiced 4-8 hours every day.
But, for the last 10 years or so, I haven’t practiced at all.
I can’t even remember last time I actually practiced. What I these days,
is just sit down and jam. And if I hear someone play something I like,
I transcribe it. However, I do get a lot of playing time down every week,
with my students, and also doing clinics and live shows.

I pretty much peaked technically after around 3 years of playing,
and after that it’s been more about refining that skill, and putting it
to musical use. However, I can not stress enough the need to do the “dog-years”,
and really apply yourself to the point that you can pretty much play anything you want to play.
After that, it’s all about having something to say with your playing.

The second most important thing for me, has been transcribing.
If there is one tool above any other I would recommend my students,
it is to transcribe, both others playing, but also your own stuff.
I have learned more by transcribing my own improvisations,
than I have learned from all my years learning tabs and other peoples stuff put together.

Transcribing other peoples stuff, pushes your boundaries and your ears,
both technically and musically. Transcribing your own stuff, makes you analyze and
crystallize your own unique voice and style, and see what it is your really do,
and what you need to work on.

Absolutely!

Transcribing has been a real god-send for me, not only for arranging pieces, but training my ear as well.
Nowadays I tend to spend time transcribing Hans Zimmer film scores, but I take it one instrument at a time. I’ll try to focus in on, say, the violins first, and then the tubas, then the voices, and then maybe the trombones, or the bassoons, or cello’s or trumpets or whatever. Right now I am transcribing the theme from the movie Broken Arrow and arranging it for guitar chamber orchestra next semester.

But I know that in years to come, i will still be practicing. There will never be a time where I can say that I stop practicing, because there is always something new out there to learn.
- September 8, 2008 at 8:27 pm
kantor1003
Member

@Mike Edwin 1245 wrote:

Spot on!

As much as I agree with this on the basis that it will keep you motivated, as well as the fact that your always going to be having fun. Depending on your goals as a musician, sometimes it is important to venture out and learn music from other genres. Even if they don’t particularly take your fancy.

My reasoning for this is 1) You may over time find that you actually DO like that new genre. Or that there is something within that style which you can put to use in your own music.

For me an example of this was when I began rehearsing with Big Band’s. It’s still Jazz and I love Jazz, but that combination didn’t really do it for me. Over time though, It grew on me. More importantly, the simple act of listening and observing how the big horn sections were used to harmonize melodies actually gave me insight into new ways of harmonizing when playing guitar.

The same goes for rhythmic ideas. Often the main thing that defines one style of music from another is its rhythmic approach. So even just spending time listening to other styles of music once in a while could really open some doors to your playing.

Overall though, I very much agree with what Marty is saying. Do what you love, and you will always love it.

regarding marty´s words about practising the music you want to play, I couldnt agree more either, in THEORY. At least, that is the case in my situation. I love jazz/rock jazz/funk jazz/metal Jazz/pop, but not jazz in the sense of II,V,I and autumn leaves. But people have said to me that in order to play those styles convincingly, I would have to learn jazz…and I am still trying (not too much anymore), but I cant get over the fact that I really dont like II,V,I harmony, or improvising over it for that matter. It dosnt feel like home at all.. so I am a bit confused. The things I do these days is just transcribing some licks from pat martino and the likes, and using them in other settings…for instance over a heavy metal groove, which is really cool. The problem with that though, is that I cant play a convincingly Jazz improv in a jazz setting…which is what I must be able to do if I am to study at a conservatory. The real issue for me I guess is that I am not a complete jazz musician nor a complete rock musician…but together, it aint too bad, but that is my dilemma…every conservatory is so traditional it seems, so I guess I must take a big bite of traditional jazz tunes if I am to study music at a professional level:/
- September 22, 2008 at 5:16 am
AJ_Lenzie
Member

sorry i just stumbled upon this post so i figured id throw my 2 cents in! As of me stumbling (sorry for the double usage already!) on this site i didnt really practice very much. I have been playing about 3 to 4 hours a day for the past 2 months, but the hole im in is that i dont want to learn songs anymore i want to compose my own, but lack the skill to play whats in my head so im struggling through it right now but im staying optimistic! But i practice quite a bit nowadays! So thats good!!!

AJ