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Post subject: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:22 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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With the type of work schedule I have(3rd shift,...sleep during day and work at night),I find it somewhat hard to set an ideal practice time and duration. I work ten hour days,so naturally I try to sleep AT LEAST six or seven hours. My "work day" starts at 9:30 pm and
ends at 8:00 am.,...I work four ten hour days a week,BTW,and my days off rotate each week. I don't practice as much as I should be practicing,and I am trying to discipline myself to practice regularly each day,but setting an ideal time and duration is where I have most trouble. Some say twenty minutes a day is enough ,some say thirty minutes is ideal,and some say an hour or more. I would practice as much as some of you do if time and schedule allowed,but still being a working man,I have to have my rest,too! :) I guess what I am trying to say is that I need a routine,...same time each day. I had been away from music for so long,...over ten years,...so I am trying to re-discipline myself back into practicing regularly. At the end of a long ten hour,...sometimes twelve hour,...day,my thoughts are on getting home and hitting the sack! :)

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:55 pm
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Routines are good but hard to maintain. So, to make sure I play enough, I keep my Tele on a stand next to my desk chair and I pick it up every time I'm at my desk at home, which is a lot. It may not be formal practice, but I noodle, run scales work on parts of songs etc. I have it sitting in my lap now as I'm typing. As soon as I'm done I'll play something. All the noodling time adds up. Here, I'll play you something! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:56 pm
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Well make sure you don't see it as a chore... that'll kill enthusiasm faster than finding crabs at an Orgy ! :shock:

In your specific case, I believe the most important thing is to at least pickup the guitar 5 days a week and work on one thing, and one thing only, picking a different skill/technique for each day. That way, your routine will be varied and you'll progress on an even (albeit necessarily slower) pace.

Also, be sure to include some noodling time... if it ain't fun, why're you doing it.. ??

Good Luck!

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:09 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
In your specific case, I believe the most important thing is to at least pickup the guitar 5 days a week and work on one thing, and one thing only, picking a different skill/technique for each day. That way, your routine will be varied and you'll progress on an even (albeit necessarily slower) pace.

Also, be sure to include some noodling time... if it ain't fun, why're you doing it.. ??


I keep a guitar bedside just so I have no excuse - even if I don't find time to practice or play due to work or women or other worries, I can always take five minutes when going to bed. And extend it to fifteen.

Yes, don't make it a chore. If you don't feel like practicing, at least play something you like and know well. Substitute a chord or two. Have fun.
It beats getting put off.


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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:17 pm
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I practice whenever I feel like it. Some times about 30 min some times less. It's a hobby so don't make it a chore


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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:04 am
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Lightnin MN wrote:
Well make sure you don't see it as a chore... that'll kill enthusiasm faster than finding crabs at an Orgy ! :shock:


+1 and Lightnin MN wins the "Funniest Thing I Heard All Week Award"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

As for practicing, since your schedule is what it is, try to play at least 15 minutes a day and it might help to set up a weekly rotation i.e., Scales on Mondays, Chord work on Tuesdays, and so on. Then whatever day it happens to be that you get playing time in, stick to your rotation, that way you don't spend time trying to decide what to do.

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:17 am
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Don't know what you do for a living so this might not work for you.

I had the same issue, trying to find enough time in the day to schedule regular practice. I ended up buying a 15 year old Godin G1000 (which I've come to really like) for $200.00 which I keep at the office and practice unplugged in an empty conference room every day at lunch.


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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:22 am
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I have been playing since 1960....

I still practice at least 5 days a week. I set myself a goal of what I want to do that particular day. I work hard at it. sometimes it fights me, sometimes it comes fairly fast. on those days it fights me, I move on to something else on guitar. I play until I am tired of it-sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes hours.

just remember, without practice you will get nowhere in a hurry


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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:29 am
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T2Stratman wrote:
Lightnin MN wrote:
Well make sure you don't see it as a chore... that'll kill enthusiasm faster than finding crabs at an Orgy ! :shock:


+1 and Lightnin MN wins the "Funniest Thing I Heard All Week Award"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

As for practicing, since your schedule is what it is, try to play at least 15 minutes a day and it might help to set up a weekly rotation i.e., Scales on Mondays, Chord work on Tuesdays, and so on. Then whatever day it happens to be that you get playing time in, stick to your rotation, that way you don't spend time trying to decide what to do.

HTH

T2


+2 on that "Funniest thing I Heard All Week" award,...I darn near fell off my chair at the computer laughing! :lol: :lol: :lol: I don't want to view practice as a chore,...it should be something I WANT to do,...not HAVE to do! I'm sure we all have those things that sometimes distract us from doing things we need to do,...and this darn computer is my biggest one! :lol: Now if I'm using it as a practice aid,...that's entirely different.

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If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:54 am
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44james wrote:
Don't know what you do for a living so this might not work for you.

I had the same issue, trying to find enough time in the day to schedule regular practice. I ended up buying a 15 year old Godin G1000 (which I've come to really like) for $200.00 which I keep at the office and practice unplugged in an empty conference room every day at lunch.


I spend anywhere from ten to twelve hours a day operating a stand up counter balance forklift truck in a non-perishable grocery distribution center on the shipping dock. By the end of the day,the legs and feet are tired from all the standing and going in and out of semi trailers. My heart and mind is telling me I need to practice,but the body is saying "No,...go to bed and rest!" :lol: Although the purpose of this thread is/was to get ideas on ideal practice durations and times,...I have just remembered something the organist at church told me,...she says that she often plays at home to relax and practice what she will be playing the next Sunday. Maybe I should just follow her approach! :) I'd be willing to bet that she,too,may just "noodle" around on the organ a little herself at the end of a long day. Maybe I should do the same,..but on guitar!

_________________
If it aint' broke,...don't fix it! I like to keep my amps and guitars factory original,...no mods necessary,...don't want them,...don't need them!

My gear as of now;
Standard Strat
Hot Rod Deluxe III amp
Champion 20 amp
'59 Bassman LTD Reissue


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Profile
Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:34 am
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I would practice after I got off work for 30-60 minutes depending on my schedule. While I'm awake and alert. :shock:

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Last edited by jaknzax on Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 7:47 am
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KC9SYJ wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
Lightnin MN wrote:
Well make sure you don't see it as a chore... that'll kill enthusiasm faster than finding crabs at an Orgy ! :shock:


+1 and Lightnin MN wins the "Funniest Thing I Heard All Week Award"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

T2


+2 on that "Funniest thing I Heard All Week" award,...I darn near fell off my chair at the computer laughing! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Thank-you, thank-you... I'll be here all month !! :lol: :lol:

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:39 am
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...And don't forget to tip the waitresses! :lol: :lol:

T2

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 10:56 am
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My ideal practice time used to be during commercial breaks :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Ideal practice times and duration
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 3:15 pm
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KC9SYJ wrote:
I spend anywhere from ten to twelve hours a day operating a stand up counter balance forklift truck in a non-perishable grocery distribution center on the shipping dock. By the end of the day,the legs and feet are tired from all the standing and going in and out of semi trailers. My heart and mind is telling me I need to practice,but the body is saying "No,...go to bed and rest!" :lol: Although the purpose of this thread is/was to get ideas on ideal practice durations and times,...I have just remembered something the organist at church told me,...she says that she often plays at home to relax and practice what she will be playing the next Sunday. Maybe I should just follow her approach! :) I'd be willing to bet that she,too, may just "noodle" around on the organ a little herself at the end of a long day. Maybe I should do the same,..but on guitar!


What kind of a Church is that where she may just "noodle" around on the organ a little herself at the end of a long day ???

My Church generally frowns on this citing Blindness as one of the potential consequences !! :oops:

cheers!

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'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
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