1. - I never made a plan for practicing, I just did it when I felt like it which was all the time when I was back in berklee. The content would of course contain things like scales and technique based material... but it was never structured. When I came across something I couldn't play, I would work harder on that and solve the problem.
2. - when I'm writing I work from melody most of the time. one idea, collections of ideas, whatever takes me at the time. I just make sure I always serve the melody as best I can.
3. - Please remember this is a personal opinion, and I'm not shouting some sort of gospel here.... I pretty much have no interest in this "shred" attitude you're talking about. yngwie, satriani and these guys are really playing for an audience of musicians and guitarists, and have very limited ability to create music that might reach an audience beyond the musician geek. There are musicians that get lumped into that category that I don't think belong there because of just that reason. They make music, and do reach a wide audience beyond musicians. Van Halen would have to rate extremely high on my list of favorite musicians in general, and sure, he has technical prowess on the guitar and can "shred", but that's such a minute aspect of his music that the melody and the heart is the thing that comes across to me. guitarists who shred are for the NAMM show to help sell guitars to geeks, that's about the end of story for that group of people.
you be the judge -
are you more moved by this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_IY...eature=related
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQSZG6Zq0I
both are guitar players, but for me only one does something for me emotionally through music.....
4. - I would imagine you fill in an application form and go and take an audition.... beyond that I have no idea.
Easy,
Janek
