Dealing with Reasons to Not Practice?
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How do I deal?
By listening to lots of music all the time....
Also. When you gig three nights a week the need to practice starts to diminish a little bit.
By listening to lots of music all the time....
Also. When you gig three nights a week the need to practice starts to diminish a little bit.
Habit. Set aside a time for practice and stick to it. Now that's easier said than done, but if you can get into a routine that you can stick with and which is recognized by all the others in your life, you will eliminate a lot of the excuses. It took me a couple of years to sort out the wife, kids, friends, job demands, etc. But now they all know that I'm serious about that time, and after almost a year, I find that that the excuses have kind of evaporated. I have a space carved out where the sax is always set up and ready to play, the music is on the stand, and the amp is set up to play backing tracks.
I'm an academic, and one of the things we have to do is write and publish lots of articles ("publish or perish"). I can come up with 10 excuses for not writing for every one you can come up with for not practicing. Back in the day, my Phd advisor asked me when during the day I wrote. I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out he set aside time every morning to write, whether he had anything to write or not. He just did it because that's what he did. A couple of years ago I was talking with Larry Monroe from Berklee and I asked him if he still practiced (he's in his 70s). He said he practices the first two hours of every day, just to know that if he did not play any more that day at least he got his two hours in. Not because he loved to practice, but he said this is just what I do. I'm a musician. That was my inspiration to find that two hours.
So, when do you play?
I'm an academic, and one of the things we have to do is write and publish lots of articles ("publish or perish"). I can come up with 10 excuses for not writing for every one you can come up with for not practicing. Back in the day, my Phd advisor asked me when during the day I wrote. I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out he set aside time every morning to write, whether he had anything to write or not. He just did it because that's what he did. A couple of years ago I was talking with Larry Monroe from Berklee and I asked him if he still practiced (he's in his 70s). He said he practices the first two hours of every day, just to know that if he did not play any more that day at least he got his two hours in. Not because he loved to practice, but he said this is just what I do. I'm a musician. That was my inspiration to find that two hours.
So, when do you play?
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Do you listen to the music by itself or while doing other activities? A lot of people seem rather passionate about ONLY listening to music. Personally, I try to practice if I've got the time to sit down and just listen to an album.
I've heard this before, and try to set a time but normally I have to change my practice time everyday to compensate for school work, work, rehearsals, etc.
-Bubba-
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Lately I only 'practice' when I have to. Community band stuff I get down within the first couple of rehearsals.
Solo stuff usually only takes a week if I put in a good hour on it every day.
Pit orchestra stuff.... That's when the fit hits the shan. At least 2 hours on each instrument every day for as long as I have the book. There is always one or 2 sections that my fingers refuse to learn and take great amusement in kicking my behind. It's way too cold to make the trek out to the barn for a little 'just for fun' playing.
My house is very old and I don't have an area where I can go and not disturb the daughter and/or husband. When they aren't here... I play everything I can until they get home.
It's frusterating because I really play quite well for a lady of my advanced age...
Solo stuff usually only takes a week if I put in a good hour on it every day.
Pit orchestra stuff.... That's when the fit hits the shan. At least 2 hours on each instrument every day for as long as I have the book. There is always one or 2 sections that my fingers refuse to learn and take great amusement in kicking my behind. It's way too cold to make the trek out to the barn for a little 'just for fun' playing.
My house is very old and I don't have an area where I can go and not disturb the daughter and/or husband. When they aren't here... I play everything I can until they get home.
It's frusterating because I really play quite well for a lady of my advanced age...
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Oh your still real young and young at heart you have a long way to goLately I only 'practice' when I have to. Community band stuff I get down within the first couple of rehearsals.
Solo stuff usually only takes a week if I put in a good hour on it every day.
Pit orchestra stuff.... That's when the fit hits the shan. At least 2 hours on each instrument every day for as long as I have the book. There is always one or 2 sections that my fingers refuse to learn and take great amusement in kicking my behind. It's way too cold to make the trek out to the barn for a little 'just for fun' playing.
My house is very old and I don't have an area where I can go and not disturb the daughter and/or husband. When they aren't here... I play everything I can until they get home.
It's frusterating because I really play quite well for a lady of my advanced age...
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20,232 Posts
Maybe! There are times when I look in the mirror and wonder why there is an old lady looking back at me.Oh your still real young and young at heart you have a long way to go
Then I remember that Grannies are supposed to be old....
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I'll listen to ONLY music, which I'll call 'active listening', if I'm somewhere I can't physically practise but have the time to devote my full attention like on the train or in the car or late at night.
I'll listen to music whilst doing other stuff - 'passive listening' - like when I'm working, doing housework or on the computer.
Even listening to hours of jazz greats while reading on the train (passive listening definitely) has improved my jazz musical fluency I believe. Sure, shedding with my horn would be a more direct musical practise but you gotta listen to the masters sometime too.
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Man I'd love to be able to play during breaks at work! I've tried to find a nice quiet place (ie soundproof) but no luck.
I do drag my horn around in the car with me and get some practise time in after or before work that way.
No horn love for the family man!
I do drag my horn around in the car with me and get some practise time in after or before work that way.
No horn love for the family man!
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3,814 Posts
When I'm stuck not being able to practice (usually because work gets in the way, although lately it's been houseguests), you can usually count on me to get cranky and frustrated.
If I need to 'shed something for an upcoming performance or session and I'm not able to practice... that's a recipe for a meltdown, and it's been known to happen.
My coping strategies include being willing, when necessary, to practice anywhere, including outdoors. Helps to live in California, but I've been known to pull a horn out in the park even when the weather isn't cooperating. Sometimes I'll commandeer a practice room at the university where I teach (they put up with it because I sub in the jazz band if they need me to). I'm also a union member, so if I'm royally stuck I'll rent a rehearsal room at the local. Getting better is important to me, and since practice time is crucial to accomplishing that goal, I just have to make it a priority.
If it's the day gig that's getting in the way... sometimes I just have to deal with it. It's frustrating, but having a job is crucial to survival, so I just get through those weeks as best I can without losing my cool.
If I need to 'shed something for an upcoming performance or session and I'm not able to practice... that's a recipe for a meltdown, and it's been known to happen.
My coping strategies include being willing, when necessary, to practice anywhere, including outdoors. Helps to live in California, but I've been known to pull a horn out in the park even when the weather isn't cooperating. Sometimes I'll commandeer a practice room at the university where I teach (they put up with it because I sub in the jazz band if they need me to). I'm also a union member, so if I'm royally stuck I'll rent a rehearsal room at the local. Getting better is important to me, and since practice time is crucial to accomplishing that goal, I just have to make it a priority.
If it's the day gig that's getting in the way... sometimes I just have to deal with it. It's frustrating, but having a job is crucial to survival, so I just get through those weeks as best I can without losing my cool.
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I have some problems with this as well due to competition for practice rooms (community center), and living in a space where others dont appreciate horn. It makes me envious of the keyboardists and guitar players who can plug in and put on a pair of head phones. Or even drummers who can get a synth practice kit.
But something that struck me the other day while searching Bird, Coltrane etc was that Trane came home and practiced for "Hours without blowing" according to his Alice Coltrane. My instructor says he does this, and carries a clarinet with him in the car so he can at least play something during the day if not his sax (he plays it in his car during a work break).
Does anyone else do this? I have time, but not an hour or two at one time. And I dont always have the place to actualy blow the horn-
Thanks
But something that struck me the other day while searching Bird, Coltrane etc was that Trane came home and practiced for "Hours without blowing" according to his Alice Coltrane. My instructor says he does this, and carries a clarinet with him in the car so he can at least play something during the day if not his sax (he plays it in his car during a work break).
Does anyone else do this? I have time, but not an hour or two at one time. And I dont always have the place to actualy blow the horn-
Thanks
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I am not a working musician (I have a day job), so I try to make sure I am always signed up for a community band/class/ensemble somewhere, so if nothing else, once or twice a week I have to show up at a pre-scheduled time. I will "air finger" passages while riding on a bus or train.
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Can you elaborate on this, please? Do you mean playing without a reed or what? Sorry for being dense but I don't get it.
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I really cant becuase I dont know myself.
In the interview I read Alice stated that John would: play all night at a gig, come home and play in the garage for an hour, then come inside and practice for hours witbout "blowing."
Thats all I know.
My instructer has told me he will play very softly in his hotel room while on the road, or take the MPC off and and hold the opening close to his ear so he can hear the pads.
Regardless, I find the concept of practicing without blowing hard, or not at all, very interesting and something Ill try to incorporate into my practice so I can have at least have the horn in my hands in one way or another-
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