How to Practice

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How to Practice

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ToddK

Posts: 2961
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

How to Practice

Practice is often measured in "Hours".

I think this is very decieving. I believe the way in which you practice,
is infinitely more important than how long.

One half hour, the right way, is better than 10 the wrong way.
I believe many people also dont realize how important the mental aspects
of playing are as well. Too much time training the hands, but not
really focusing enough on what their thinking while doing things, and
how they are thinking.

So, how do you know you're practicing the right way?

What is your idea of "practicing effectively"?

TK

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 13:50:46

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

First, i totally agree with what you said.

---

I can only speak for myself, but i learn most and improve if the way i practice is
somehow - let say - exciting.

For example if i want to practice tremolo, then i prefer to practice a new nice
tremolo falseta rather than practicing repeating "tremolo methods" on the same strings´,
positions, etc. again and again.

Thats what i have observed about myself.

Keeping it exciting and interesting is the key (for me)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 15:22:01

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: How to Practice (in reply to Arash)

It is undoubtedly an interesting question, and am sure many replies illuminitaing as always.

However, I am afraid I cannot relate to the idea of practicing without paying it any mind.. when i play I am unforgiveably absent-minded, because my mind is completely on the music (some romantic who views the heart as the custodian and depository of feelings may want me to add that my heart is there as well).

when i review music, I dedicate my practice to improve, and typically in the following order :
dexterity
tempo
accuracy
tone
reciting the melodic texture
endurance (playing the whole with the above in mind)

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 18:46:49

gshaviv

Posts: 272
Joined: Mar. 22 2005
From: Israel

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

Since lately I'm focused more on dance accompaniment, I almost always practice with a flamenco metronome or a solo compas track and I try to envision the dancers when I play.

Also when I start, I always start with some technique drills to warm up the hands, and I start them slow, picking up pace until I'm at the pace of the dance. I find if I don't warm up my hands, my playing is lousy and I don't feel happy with it. 5 minutes is all it takes.

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Guy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 19:22:33

duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

I belive in practicing in 5-10min intervals. It deppends on what your doing of course,
To repeat a movment (rasgueado or picado etc) very slow for 5 min and realy consentrate works realy well.

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This is hard stuff!
Don't give up...
And don't make it a race.
Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.

RON

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 21:51:16

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

Only inspiration matters for my practice....if I am not inspired I don't play at all. When I am, I keep playing and don't stop till the inspiration is gone, could be for many hours, or just minutes....

Unfortunately there are times you can be inspired but there is no opportunity to play....other times you have your guitar running scales but it is pointless....

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 22:20:42

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: How to Practice (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Only inspiration matters for my practice

do you ever have a dry spell where you don't get any inspiration for an extended period of time?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2009 22:31:46

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

Interesting how 'individual' different players' practice philosophies seem to be. I don't really relate to your idea of thinking/focusing? I start consciously i.e. work through a range of techniques - rasgueado, picado, tremolo etc - starting slowly, then trying a few pieces... but it's AFTER this that there's some take-off into a SUBconscious/Unthinking phase - this is where I often surprise myself by playing really fluently. Like Ricardo says, it's then you feel like carrying on...until eventually the muse or inspiration leaves.

PS as someone else suggested, this doesn't always happen! Often the creativity/inspiration tank is a bit dry, and, although I may noodle away for a bit, I generally don't persist very long (just treat the practice session as a 'hi, touching base, but not got much to say today' conversation with a friend).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 1:39:53

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

PS Though I totally agree with you that measuring practice in hours can be deceptive. I rarely say 'right, now I'm going to practice my picado for half an hour', I just leave my guitar lying around on the sofa and pick it up frequently for musical 'snacks'.

This whole concept of time discipline/measurement in relation to activities is curious. I have Buddhist friends who HAVE to get up at 6 in the morning and HAVE to chant for an hour (to me, I don't really see why *time* is that important, why not just do it and lose all sense of time?).

'More is Better' vs 'Quality rather than Quantity' ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 2:26:59

bursche

Posts: 1182
Joined: Jul. 19 2007
From: Frankfurt, Germany

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

the practice time I need varies very much.

If I learn new stuff and try to figure out things then I might sit there up to three hours without any breaks.

If I have spent a couple of weeks just on repeating things then I'm more focussed on effectivity, try to increase my concentration with lots of coffee and play through my repertoire very slowly using the metronome, trying to really get each note without any compromise.

If nothing else helps and I notice a serious lack of technical ability I isolate the problematic passage and make it a repeating exercise that can be played as a neverending circle.
When doing this, longer works always better for me.

Generally, as long as I'm given the time, I stop practicing when I notice some sucess and feel content with it. May be after 2 or after 10 hours

For me, practicing less than two hours is problematic, because I can't hold my repertoire then. Pieces I don't repeat for too long get sloppy. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I started playing quite late. Sometimes I get angry that I didn't spent every day of my childhood behind a guitar.

Btw - I remember that practicing pieces that were over my level have always improved my playing of all the other pieces.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 4:06:13

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: How to Practice (in reply to bursche)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bursche

I think this has a lot to do with the fact that I started playing quite late. Sometimes I get angry that I didn't spent every day of my childhood behind a guitar.

So sad and so true!

I started playing E-Guitar, Blues etc. when i was 15, 16 (ok, this is not childhood but still the time when you learn and memorize very fast and lasting). I played until i was 22....then stopped guitar playing for few years totally. And then started with Flamenco few years ago.

Now after many years of not playing that stuff,,,,i still realize that those stuff are been etched on my memory and my left hand and that i still can play them almost at the same level without even beeing practicing them.

When i think about what would i would be capable of, if i would have started with Flamenco at that age, i could go mad.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 4:26:08

val

Posts: 800
Joined: Apr. 4 2007

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Nov. 8 2010 13:45:36

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 6:47:15

ricecrackerphoto

Posts: 265
Joined: Feb. 5 2006

RE: How to Practice (in reply to ToddK)

a bass player friend told me some great tips for practice that i continually ignore:

1) the idea is to improve. if pressed for time, set one small goal so that if you only play for 5 min, you have actually progressed.

2) isolate and attack. if there is a problem passage or technique, play it correctly over and again until its no longer a problem.

doug

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 7:52:38

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: How to Practice (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

quote:

Only inspiration matters for my practice

do you ever have a dry spell where you don't get any inspiration for an extended period of time?

Sure, but I can't play guitar or "practice" at that time. but I quickly find inspiration watching a movie, or listening to some new music, or surfing the net and youtube! There is almost too much stimulus for me....

But when not inspired, the guitar feels like driving a dump truck, can't make it work at all...Luckily, I play gigs nightly and usually gain back some inspiration by having to perform in front and with other people...

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 7 2009 8:57:17