How often/how long do you practice?

I cant say how long I practice each one

In college we had to learn 17 instruments and take comps on all of them to graduate and be certified in band

I dont think I practice any of them any more -- just teach and demonstrate enough so skills don't deteriorate -- but not enough to where they are getting better


In college in my 20's I practiced saxophone at least an hour a day - most days more if you count all the ensemble rehearsals


today I just learn and write a lot of songs and probably play bass the most -- guitar behind that -- and piano and drums I play equally --funny my main istrument in college (saxophone) doesn't get played unless I have to teach it

so in my ripe old age of 40 - typically I practice to either learn or write a song part --

and that would about sum it up -- how ever long it takes me to learn a new song on what ever instrument i am asked to do -- is how much I practice -- and typically -- its learned in about 15 minutes or less


so -- I guess I dont practice much anymore - -but I still play a lot

The way I practice has changed.

My current practice sessions are derived from a tune I'm learning. It's a Wes Montgomery cover of a cover he did.
After figuering out all the changes and notes I'm learning how to play it. What that means is first I want to find where he played the notes, his fingering and positioning. Then I want to know where I feel comfortable playing them. And all the time I'm doing that I want to "own" some of the "licks" - by "own" I mean to modify to the way I feel. Either changing phrasing or maybe a note or two. (very lengthy process for me but I like what I get out of it- more than if I just played the tune)
I don't time my sessions when I'm studying, which is more indepth than practicing. I mean trying to analyze the material is a lot harder for me than just playing a scale over and over.
If I'm making progress I play and study until I'm tired. Sometimes 2-3 hours. Sometimes just enough to get warmed up.
I do keep a guitar by my chair and pick it up and just play...has often as I want and for the most..everyday...very unusuall to miss a day if only picking for 20-30 minutes.
 
 
 

Beag,

Have you heard my bass tracks on The CHB songs?

That should be answer enough for you.

Wood67


I'm like you - I really should practice, but whenever I start within about 2 minutes I've thought of a new riff/rhythm/progression and before I know it I've launched the DAW.

And, I'm just like you!   I don't really practice at all anymore - I just pretty much start playing something and hope it turns into a song idea.  Although, once my 2-yo son gets a little older, I'm pretty sure that I'll be forced to go back to the fundamentals and essentially start practicing again as I get him going.

bapu

assuming he even wants to).

Oh, believe me, he wants to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5DajzJa89w

Hi,

At this time, I spend more time writing than I do touching music ... and sometimes I am so tuned to the writing that I don't even play any music along side of it ... I used to always have music at my side, I suppose as some sort of inspiration, but now ... it's like that inspiration is inside and I don't need the music.

I'm wanting to do some stuff music wise, but I am not sure that is going to happen ... I'm probably way too difficult for anyone to have the patience of Jobe to help me get past my own experience and learn some music ... but I am looking forward to being locked up for a whole month in a white room with a synthesizer and maybe a computer or two ...

Too much of the teaching/learning ... is way out there for nothing ... I just need to get past some of this invisible technology ... and the rest is easy! It will then be a matter of ... do I want to do this, or do that ... or change it to this and/or something else ... has nothing to do with music itself ... has to do with me translating my own inner movie via my fingers into a keyboard and it coming off ... somewhere near what I hear and want to see/do with it ...

If it's music, fine ... if it's farting ... fine!
 
I'm actually looking for someone to help me get past Synth 101 ... and will pay for it ... and a DAW expert is not what I need, or want at this moment!

The quick answer is:  not enough!

But it's a matter of priorities. So many other things to do...most of which are a lot more important than me learning a new song.

But when I'm working on a song for a recital, it might be 20 minutes a day for 4-5 months.  Unfortunately I can't practice a serious(ly hard) song much longer than that or my wrists or shoulders start hurting. 

Practice....................Beagle, you sure know how to "guilt trip" a guy.  All those years on the road with my bands it was six days a week solo on the voice and keys and three days a week 2-3 hours per full band rehearsal on new tunes and workin' out the kinks.  Not much anymore as I only do occasional live work.  Just enough repetition to maintain digit dexterity and  keep the rust off my vocal cords.  Now its feast or famine.  Working up tracks for a new or old original and then marathon sessions so I won't lose train of thought.  I think digital recording has transformed personal practice discipline for many musicians.  The ability to build tracks in perfect pieces inevitably leads some of us away from the simple joy of playing for playing's sake.  I stand guilty as charged......................

Hey Beagle,

I play my electric guitars a few times a week and my bass maybe once.......

Now ,the little time I spend on my instruments isn't really practice as much as dinking around.....

My guitars skills have diminished significantly( I've never been legit anyay) ...

My creative process has been diminished proportionally to my skill set........

Kinda sad.............

 

Beagle

bapu


Beag,

Have you heard my bass tracks on The CHB songs?

That should be answer enough for you.

ROR!

and it ends after about the 50th take.

Mee too. And then I scream: "I've got blisters on my fingers!"

Spaceduck


Was that you??
I just say "I buried Paul"

Raspberry sauce?

Sir Duck--I do what I can to be careful and have had an ergonomic keyboard for years.   However, these joints, etc., don't last forever. 

OUCH!  I do yoga (some) but have never seen that one. 

OK, so what about forearms and shoulders?

No, forget it...I can find out myself.  Thanks for your concern. 

I practice a guitar a couple times a week and spend at least two hours of this time with a metronome.