How much do you practice? (If at all)

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 8 Mar 2008 10:50 pm

I play a little bit everyday, sometimes just 15 minutes, and sometimes several hours.

On the day before a gig I will practice a good amount of time.

One thing that is surprizing to me is how quickly I forget the difficult passages, If I have not played that song for several weeks. But then after rehearsing those parts once or twice, it comes back as good as ever.

I have over 150 songs memorized and I play without any tab or music sheets. Praise the Lord! I think the non-pedal steel is keeping my mind exercised as I grow older.

Dom Franco

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 8 Mar 2008 11:22 pm

I also play a little bit everyday. I keep a steel in sight so that it is easily accessible. I may play one song, or play an hour. I practice with BIAB and have found it to be a great help.

I forget difficult passages also. Like you say it comes back quickly when you start to play the tune.

I enjoy practicing and find it relaxing and good therapy.

Aloha,

Don

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 9 Mar 2008 2:08 am

Can someone define the difference between 'Rehearsing" and 'Practising'
'Cause I think I don't practise but I DO rehearse when called to do so..

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 9 Mar 2008 3:02 am

Basil; thats a good question!

I guess my definition would be:
Practicing scales and licks is PRACTICING.

Rehearsing the whole song and the arrangment (intro, solo, ending)is REHEARSING.

Put another way... a musician practices playing his instrument.
A band rehearses their performances.

just my oppinion, "Your mileage may vary", "Contents may settle during shipping", "Actual item may vary in color and appearance", "Limited to stock on hand", "not available in some states."

Dom

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 9 Mar 2008 5:22 am

That's what I thought Dom, in which case I DON'T practice, just rehearse..
I'm sort of ashamed to admit it, but it is the case, I tend to work thing out in my head and once there it's no problem.(Usually)

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 9 Mar 2008 7:47 am

I leave a few guitars out on stands around the house so that they're easily accessable for when I feel inspired. I used to keep most of them in their cases but I found that if I have to dig the one I want out of a case which is stored somewhere I just don't do it. One of the best things I've done was to keep a lap steel right next to the PC

Sometimes after reading these threads I reach over and grab it and start playing...

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 9 Mar 2008 8:45 am

Dittos on all that, Mark.

Bas, I'd say practising is the learning process, and rehearsing is getting what you've learned, down pat, in the context of a complete song, as Dom explained.
But, you knew that.

Lately, my practice time is 0. This ocean air is not kind to strings, and I've got a stack of new 16s that will be going on today, and then I can get back on it without sawing thru my bar.

If you constantly think about your tunes and playing, the memory stays fresh, even without putting bar to string, but daily life usually doesn't allow for this.

Jim Waldrop · Post by **Jim Waldrop** » 9 Mar 2008 10:30 am

Two hours per day. At the rate I am progressing or regressing I may have to increase my practice time.

Keith Wells · Post by **Keith Wells** » 9 Mar 2008 11:17 am

I play for an hour or so almost everyday. Sometimes I actually learn something.

Sometimes I just noodle and don't try to learn anything.

Dom said:

I think the non-pedal steel is keeping my mind exercised as I grow older.

I agree Dom, and think it works for all ages and instruments. Playing music is good for the brain -- and the soul.

John Dahms · Post by **John Dahms** » 9 Mar 2008 1:20 pm

I practice if I have a goal, something I want to learn or accomplish. I don't do that regularly. I play every day because I have to. I just have to.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 9 Mar 2008 3:45 pm

Basil asks,

Can someone define the difference between 'Rehearsing" and 'Practising'

Practice is what I do at home in preparation for rehearsal, its getting my homework done....practice is how "I" improve my skills, and rehearsal is how "we" put our skills together.

Aloha,

Don

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 9 Mar 2008 4:45 pm

It's difficult to define practice. I sit watching the television at night with a steel guitar in front of me. Every so often I'll play, and I like to play along with the music on the screen.

Bill Hampton · Post by **Bill Hampton** » 9 Mar 2008 5:48 pm

A woman I know told me that "women have hobbies -- men have obsessions". It certainly holds true for me.
I play between one and two hours a day and have to call it practice since I'm not good enough yet to play in front of people so it can't be called rehearsal.

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 9 Mar 2008 8:41 pm

Since I had a stroke last year I practice at least 3 hours a day. My neurologist said it is the best thing for me, keeps the marbles in my head and improves a little lost dexterity.

Craig Reed · Post by **Craig Reed** » 10 Mar 2008 9:09 am

I'm still a beginner, but thanks to Roy Thomson, i have something to practice on. My old Rick. is next to my PC so i hit it every day at least 1 hour. Thanks Roy.

Charley Wilder · Post by **Charley Wilder** » 10 Mar 2008 5:48 pm

I actually practice only about two or three hours a week. But I play an hour or two a day. I usually have a riff or two I have taken out of context and I work on it or them a half hour or so at a time. That I call practice. I, like Alan, do a lot of that while watching TV. In fact I call them "TV licks". Aren't I clever? Most of the time I play with rhythm tracks or along with CDs. A couple hours a day usually. And,of course, some jams now and then.

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