Practice Motivation

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 30 Dec 2001 7:29 am

In another topic a question was asked about a "work surface for our guitars". In responding to that, I was struck with the question "what does it take to motivate us to practice?" Don't get me wrong, I've practiced for most of my life it seems, but these days the older I get (and the heavier my guitar feels

) the more I find that everything has to be just right in order for me to set down and "get to work!"

What does it require for you to practice?

For me, I find that everything has to be just right. I have to have a media source for playing CD's, tapes or records, and of course a listening means (i.e. speakers or headphones, or amp, etc), a music stand, an environment that is condusive to putting me "in the mood!" And, I have to have a guitar that is "already set up!!!!" and a way to make changes readily to my axe, if needed. If I have to set up a guitar to practice..well..I'm just gonna be out of the mood by the time I get it ready to play.
If everything is ready to go and I have a guitar that is is already set up, I find it much more "inviting" to practice. When I have busy weeks where I have to have a guitar in the case, at the door, ready to go, I find that time is precious. Having one set up is much easier, but reqiures a second guitar. Also, when I get an idea for a lick, I like to be able to get to a guitar right then (or as soon as possible)so I can develope it after pondering it mentally.

So, it's now your turn. What does it take?

Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 30 December 2001 at 07:31 AM.][This message was edited by Dave Robbins on 30 December 2001 at 07:32 AM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 30 Dec 2001 8:01 am

Great topic. I work around 70-75 hours a week at a day job so practice comes hard for me. I get up on Saturday to a guitar that may be set up or I may have to set it up because I played the night before. Better to have it already set up. I have the computer to my left and a music stand in front with what I may work on. Unplug the phone! I think if I plan ahead what I'm going to do it turns out to be a lot more productive. I think just scheduling your time for practice and planning ahead what you're going to do is the most important. Some Saturdays I practice 4 to 5 hours and some all day until I have to play that night. It's amazing the difference it makes when you go in to play. That would be my New Years resolution, to practice more and be a better player.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 30 Dec 2001 8:24 am

Hey Dave,
I only have one steel but since I don't do music for a living anymore I don't have to ever put it in the case. If I get a casual gig on steel I have a padded cover I put over it and just sit it in my van with out taking it apart. Most of the time it's set up in my music room which is right off the living room and plugged in and ready to play. Sometimes I'm watching TV and something will trigger my mind and I'll just go in and start playing. I never practice scales, tablature, etc. anymore, I just play along with the radio, CD player, etc. I like to turn on the jazz station or classic rock station and play along with them. It's a challenge but I think it helps me a lot. I don't play a double neck or Universal anymore so doing everything on the E9 is a lot of fun. My girl friend plays fiddle and guitar so we can practice together if we want to. She likes Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Joan Baez, and some people like that so it's fun playing steel to other types of music.

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Have a good 'un! JH U-12

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Dec 2001 8:27 am

As I see it, there are two kinds of motivation, external and internal.

The external is when someone else motivates us to learn. It may be from watching another steelplayer, or just from hearing a lick, and then asking ourselves "How'd he do that?" This external stimulus becomes our impetus, and we strive to do what someone else does, and expand their ideas. Or, it could be a teacher or instructor that sets goals for us and guides our learning.

The internal motivation usually comes on much later. This is after we have learned all the fundamentals, and know our way around the instrument. We can do most of the stuff we hear almost automatically. We begin do polish our own style, and come up with our own licks and approaches to the instrument. This is where some players lose interest. They feel they can now do all they have to do, though not necessarily all they might want to do. It takes an innate curiosity and endless patience to sit down behind the thing and say to ourselves "What can I do that's different...that's totally mine?"

Sometimes, these patterns are reversed, and the person approaches the instrument from the first day saying "I want to do my own thing with this contraption; I don't want to play like anyone else." Most however, are overwhelmed in just a short while, and begin to copy what everyone else is doing. True innovators are few and far between. So far, I've noticed only about a half-dozen players that fit this description, and Bud Issacs was one of the first!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Dec 2001 9:45 am

Well, my steel( Carter) is setup full time right here in my home office, I have re-organized part of my office area to accomodate my Tascam 424 and my Laptop set up right there in front of the steel. I find myself practicing 30 minutes here and there several times a day and having the media setup full time as well makes this possible. I would fully agree that if I had to spend part of my practice time "Putting all the pieces together" I wouldn't practice as much. Practicing takes zero setup effort, and if I want to use the amp and sound system they are right there as well and with minimal effort I can play "LOUD".
TP

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 30 Dec 2001 11:10 am

"So, it's now your turn. What does it take?"

Humiliation!

Gary Lee

Bob McBride · Post by **Bob McBride** » 30 Dec 2001 12:13 pm

Hey Dave:
I recently listened to a tape of 6 song demos from nearly 10 years ago that you did the steel tracks on and wanted to let you know that your intonation, tone and taste are notable. Evidently your practice regimen has been plenty sufficient for quite some time. Hope things are well for you.

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 30 Dec 2001 12:54 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>What does it require for you to practice?

For me, I find that everything has to be just right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I don't mean to belittle your predicament, but it sounds more like preparing to have sex than practising the guitar, not that the two aren't interchangeable. for me, practising is one of the most enjoyable things I do.

Marc Friedland · Post by **Marc Friedland** » 30 Dec 2001 4:33 pm

Dave, Setting realistic goals and being determined to achieve them is plenty of motivation for me. Besides, I love to play music, particularly on stage, but when that's not available, practicing alone will do. When I got my 1st psg about 8 years ago, I was out performing (and I use the term very loosely) with a band within two weeks. I was lucky I if I remembered the names of the strings, let alone be able to add to the music the band was playing. My first goal was I wanted to be "very terrible" within one year. My next goal was to be extremely bad within the next year. In my own perverted mind I did achieve these goals because they were realistic and because I practiced about 4 hours every day. Well it's about 8 years later and since I don't find the time to practice and perform as much as I first did, I'm somewhere between "inspired but below average" and "not too bad". I believe it's difficult to stay the same at anything and since I don't want to get any worse, that's motivation for me to practice enough to at least keep making gradual improvements. As a matter of fact, although this is entertaining, my time would be more wisely spent practicing then talking about it, so here I go. Bye. -- Marc

Bill C. Buntin · Post by **Bill C. Buntin** » 30 Dec 2001 5:58 pm

Keep one in the vehicle and one setup. But I don't like leaving one in the vehicle because of temperatures. But having one of the 2 guitars setup in the house helps. Having good rhythm tracks makes me want to practice more. and I believe causes you to listen and be more conscious of habits. Rhythm tracks have helped me with some bad habits I didn't realize I had previously. Going out and listening to other players keeps me inspired. About the time I start to think I'm really doing great, I listen to Curly Chalker or Gary Carpenter or Reece or Buddy and remind myself just how much I still have to learn. But I stay with it. I almost quit about 5000 times.

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 31 Dec 2001 11:25 am

Bob McBride!
now there's a name I haven't heard of in a while! I'm supprised those demos haven't "self destructed" by now. They were my pleasure doing. Thanks!

By the way,guys (and gals?), I have found something that may be useful to ya'll for your practice areas. One of the things I have always had a problem with was knowing when the 'phone was ringing while I practiced with headphones on. I have found a light at Radio Shack that attaches with a little "sticky" pad that you can put up anywhere, like on your music stand, or stereo, etc. This light attaches to your telephone jack through a long cord. When the phone rings the light also flashes. Yeah, I know there are those who have answer machines (yuk!), but if you don't want to miss a call, this little light might be the answer. I keep mine right in front of me at my "practice area" between me and my media sources. Now if I'm working on something and the wife calls from the grocery store I'll know! Well... ahem.... I can at least look at the caller I.D. and see if I want to answer or not..ha ha!

The light is available inexpensively at Radio Shack and is called the "mini fone flasher". Neat! Get one.

Dave

joe wright · Post by **joe wright** » 31 Dec 2001 5:37 pm

Quit your day job and rely on steel for your living....joe

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 31 Dec 2001 5:42 pm

Knowing that you play the most delightfully beautiful sounding musical instrument in the world and further realizing that not everyone can play it well....how much more motivation does one really need to practice in order to become the best in the land? Each day presents you with a new challenge. Overcoming those challenges is what will make you the greatest!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 31 Dec 2001 11:14 pm

Hey ya, Dave,

I practice sometimes on the gig. When it's not my turn to play I turn down and play little paradiddles or licks I've been working on. Sometimes if I do that with a lick I can't usually bring off, I can play it when the guitar player is finished dazzling everyone.

>

Another aspect of practicing/playing a lot - physical limitations. I've been playing some doubles and triples (8-12 hours a day), and sometimes the top of my left foot gets so sore that it's really painful to "mash pedal B and rock over to pedal A".(Maybe if I didn't play a P/P it would help.) Wearing fingerpicks that long ain't no day at the beach, either. But, hell, Coltrane used to play until his mouth bled.

Cheers,
C#

Joseph Barcus · Post by **Joseph Barcus** » 1 Jan 2002 7:02 am

I have a small home 16 track studio, so i think of the song I want to try to copy like merle, george you know what I mean so I start with click track lay in all the insturments bass, guitar, keys, drums, sing the song, then set down and start with the steel parts you would be suprized how much my playing has improved just by recording what you do and go back, and back over it several times until its just right. I was off for a week and layed in 10 or more songs good practice. Joe from wva

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 1 Jan 2002 11:45 am

I like to practice. A while back I tried to go without practicing and be a normal person. I sunk into a pretty nasty depression that went away immediately upon dropping that foolish experiment .

Bob

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 1 Jan 2002 11:57 am

Cal....not only Coltrane...I have also known some guitar and steel players whose lip and the sides of their tongue bled after playing a job!

www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 01 January 2002 at 11:58 AM.]

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 1 Jan 2002 7:42 pm

Gene,I know a steel player who darn near strangles when he plays because hes always moaning & groaning along with the music

.

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 2 Jan 2002 7:40 am

Mikie!!! Now,..who would that be?....hum...Ol' "Raggs" maybe?

I know some people who physically get sick when I play!

Dave

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 2 Jan 2002 8:00 am

I must say that I do enjoy my "practice" sessions. But, sometimes it is just hard to get me motivated, depending on what I'm envolved with at the time. Often, I have something that is going around in my head, like a lick or phrase, and I'll go around with that in my head for days sometime. Then I'll finally set down at my steel and try to apply it. I sort of work it out in my head first.
As for just making practicing an everyday routine, that seems boring and unproductive to me. I find it much more interesting when I have something that motivates me to go to my guitar. Today's country radio just doesn't do it for me, so I have to look in other directions to get my juices flowing (so to speak) like listening to the local jazz station, or my favorite CD's, etc. But, everything has to be set up when I go to my guitar or else I loose my train of thought before I'm ready to play. Having the computer, CD player, turntable, radio, CDs, tapes, etc, all ready to go really speeds up the process. Of course, then I don't know how long I might spend there. An hour, a couple of hours, several hours, whatever it takes until I feel like I have found and worked out what it is I'm after.
I recently have found a renewed interest in Bob Wills music and swing music in general and found that I can't get enough of it. But then that conflicts with everything else. Know what I mean?

Dave

Mike Cass · Post by **Mike Cass** » 2 Jan 2002 9:47 am

me too D, ....guess a trip down to see Coxface might be in order

.
As for the factors motivating my practice regimen; I sit on the couch with my practice board & start surfin the tube 'till I find something I wanna play with.
Then,if I start feelin' real cocky I go to BET Jazz channel & get a lesson in humility

.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 2 Jan 2002 1:28 pm

I made a little practice box with preamp, CD player and headphone amp that I keep in our band bus. And I usually get in 20 minutes or so at soundcheck through the headphone amp in my TranstubeFex. At home I have instruments of all kinds scattered all around the house and studio so I pick something up and bang on it several times a day. That one takes a pretty understanding wife...

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Mark van Allen-"Blueground Undergrass" Pedal, Non-Pedal, Lap, and Dobro - c'mon by and visit: www.markvanallen.com [This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 02 January 2002 at 01:29 PM.]

Dave Robbins · Post by **Dave Robbins** » 2 Jan 2002 9:48 pm

Well....if WSM goes by the way, I guess I'll have to listen to the jazz station a lot more! Humiliation in deed!

Dave