Dealing With the Practice Concience

beaglegod · #1 02-25-2009, 07:28 PM

After 3 straight months of practicing every morning from 6 A.M. to about 7:30 - 8:00 A.M. I just didnt have it in me to day. I layed on the couch ina vegatative state and although in the back of my mind I could hear that little voice nagging me to get up and practice, I just couldnt seem to dig down and do it.

Now of course Im at work and feeling really bad.

Do you guys ever take a day off? How do you deal personally with "the practice concience" if indeed you have one?

Should I be seeking more professional help?

WRXbase · #2 02-25-2009, 07:35 PM

Nothing wrong with a siesta. I wouldn't try and get back the time you didn't get this morning. This might be a way of shifting your regimen or how you practice. Change is good.

Rudreax · #3 02-25-2009, 07:59 PM

It happens. If you can't/don't want to practice, try doing something else that involved music, or your playing.

Personally, I have no set amount of time I play play every day, although I try to do something involving the bass for at least 30 minutes a day. Whenever I'm not playing, I'm studying theory that I can use the next time I play.

PBass101 · #4 02-25-2009, 08:07 PM

If I don't want to play, I listen. I'll listen to my favorite player's songs/watch their videos on youTube and get ideas for new things I'd like to try for myself and how I'd like to try them.

Also I just got a free recording software and I'll record my practices and sometimes I'll just listen to them playback and think of things I can do to improve.

beaglegod · #5 02-25-2009, 10:18 PM

Wow. Some very constructive ideas, thank you. A day off doesnt have to be a day wasted.

Ben Wilkie · #6 02-26-2009, 03:01 AM

When I had my first bass lesson at university, I was told that practice can involve a whole lot more than playing bass. It can be transcribing a tune - using just your ear, or with your bass - or it can be tapping out poly-rhythms while sitting on the bus, just listening to new music, compose a song, clean your bass, go see a concert, anything that can be related back to your ultimate goal of becoming a better musician.

Also, it might be good to havea day off playing. Give your hands and mind a rest. Often, if we play too much we start getting too comfortable - take a day off, use that time off to work out something completly new to do on your bass. A teacher used to tell me that kicking my own ass is the best way to become a better musician - so do something hard! That's what makes practice exciting.