HOW THE HECK DO I FIND TIME TO PLAY?

[Funkadelic Monk]

Before I knew it, my bass guitar was collecting dust. I'm piled with homework, and it doesn't help that I'm in all honors classes (the much harder ones that don't give you a break). What do I do? I'm so stressed out! Do I choose between the guitar or school? Of course, if it were my choice I'd choose guitar but it's a lot more complicating than that. I'm going to play the bass guitar right now no matter what, even if I have a bunch of homework to do. I miss my crappy Washburn...

[NoobOnRoad]

Do like all of us........play at late hours with no amps

[Fred19137]

It seems to me that you have a time management problem. If I have multiple days where I don't have much free time. I make a list of all the things I need to do the night before then I get them done quick the next day usually getting a free hour. Um also try doing homework in class, and absolutely no TV! It is a waste of time.

[Funkadelic Monk]

Heh, I'll try. I usually get up at 3 A.M. just to play the guitar. One time, my parents saw the light on in my room, and they yelled at me for waking up so late. I'm literally sleep deprived from waking up every night. My parents think there's something wrong with me when I really just want to play my freakin' guitar!

[Jake of Bass]

+1 to the time management issue. You just need to plan it out, like budgeting your money. Doing so will allow you to see just what you can cut out and get some free time back to put into bass.

[Funkadelic Monk]

You're right about the TV, Fred19137. I was watching "Classic Albums" on Vh1 Classic, and I was like, "What am I doing? If I want to achieve what these guys did, then I've got to stop wasting my time!" So I don’t really watch television anymore, and I don't eat as much (when I'm bored, just when I'm really hungry). I'll try to make a schedule and see if it will work.

By the way, it's cool how you guys responded super quick. Thanks!

[Funkadelic Monk]

In fact, I think I'll make one now.

5 A.M. - Wake Up
5:05 A.M. - Get ready for school
5:10 A.M. - Eat breakfast
5:30 A.M. - Brush Teeth
5:40 A.M. - Play guitar
6:40 A.M. - Get stuff ready to go
6:45 A.M. - Do whatever
6:55 A.M. - Leave for school
3:10 P.M. - Eat light snack
3:20 P.M. - Do whatever
4:00 P.M. - Do homework
6:00 P.M. - Play guitar
7:30 P.M. - Dinner
8:00 P.M. - Play guitar
9:30 P.M. - Pick clothes out for next day and pack backpack
9:50 P.M. - Get ready for bed
10:00 P.M. - Read
10:30 P.M. - Sleep

… And the cycle start all over again. How’s my schedule? Feel free to tell me what to change!

[Jake of Bass]

Man, you've scheduled in 4 hours playing guitar each day. I think you'll do fine

[Matt Dean]

You just need to quite school... move to NYC, SF, or LA... sleep on a porch, work odd jobs and practice bass by day and play in three bands by night.

At least that's what I did much to my parents angst

Did that until age 28, then decided to go to college...

Now I'm a 50yo weekend warrior with a good day job

[Funkadelic Monk]

Really? I felt like it wasn't enough! The great ones played up to 10 hours a day. Man, how did my uncle get through high school playing the guitar for that long, and still passing school?!?

[progrockbass]

It is always tough to find time to practice but I find that if I keep a bass close at hand and not locked away in a case it is easier. So I have basses on stands in the media room, on the wall in the music room and an acoustic in the bedroom. Even if it is 5 or 10 minutes at a go I find it helps and relaxes me. Tell your parents that it's important to you and that it helps you relax your mind so that you can get back to your studies.

[Funkadelic Monk]

Hah, I wish I could quit school, Matt! I'm not even 15 yet! I'm just a girl hoping to start a new revolution (of music, that is) or just be a part of it. I can't do that my just practicing 4 hours a day!!!

[Funkadelic Monk]

Originally Posted by progrockbass

It is always tough to find time to practice but I find that if I keep a bass close at hand and not locked away in a case it is easier. So I have basses on stands in the media room, on the wall in the music room and an acoustic in the bedroom. Even if it is 5 or 10 minutes at a go I find it helps and relaxes me. Tell your parents that it's important to you and that it helps you relax your mind so that you can get back to your studies.

Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll be sure to tell them tonight.

Hey, what do you guys think about my schedule? Should I change anything? I kind of want to get in more practice.

[makanudo]

you can always read and do homework with a bass in your lap..

[Funkadelic Monk]

Originally Posted by makanudo

you can always read and do homework with a bass in your lap..

No, that wouldn't work; it would just hold me back. I'd either be too concentrated on my homework or I'd be too concentrated on the guitar, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wouldn't get my homework finished. With a bass guitar in my lap, it would just slow me down to the point where I would have gotten more practice in if I didn't try to multi-task.

[makanudo]

Originally Posted by Funkadelic Monk

No, that wouldn't work; it would just hold me back. I'd either be too concentrated on my homework or I'd be too concentrated on the guitar, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wouldn't get my homework finished. With a bass guitar in my lap, it would just slow me down to the point where I would have gotten more practice in if I didn't try to multi-task.

true well maybe you can read a page, do an excercise, read another one, another excercise.. no?

[MaxRossell]

Originally Posted by Funkadelic Monk

Hah, I wish I could quit school, Matt! I'm not even 15 yet! I'm just a girl hoping to start a new revolution (of music, that is) or just be a part of it. I can't do that my just practicing 4 hours a day!!!

Rubbish. Of course you can. Four hours a day is more than enough. I'd actually recommend you don't do that much every day, just maybe four days a week.

As for your schedule, something's gotta give. You're fourteen, you have your whole life ahead of you. Goof off a little bit. The "great ones" as you refer to them goofed off all the time.

[Funkadelic Monk]

Originally Posted by makanudo

true well maybe you can read a page, do an excercise, read another one, another excercise.. no?

Well, I've come up with a schedule that I'm definitely going to stick to. So hopefully I'll get stuff done with just that.

Originally Posted by MaxRossell

Rubbish. Of course you can. Four hours a day is more than enough. I'd actually recommend you don't do that much every day, just maybe four days a week.

As for your schedule, something's gotta give. You're fourteen, you have your whole life ahead of you. Goof off a little bit. The "great ones" as you refer to them goofed off all the time.

That's true, but with the way today is (music industry wise), I don't know what to do. I want to become great one day, and for someone like me I go with "work first, play later." Of course, I'm having fun playing the guitar, but I wont get anything done if I'm sitting around and watching television. Yes, the "great ones" may have fooled around, but that was the time where they didn't have the luxury that we have like high-speed internet or cable TV. The only friends I had recently were people who wanted to do just that: watch television or zone out into the computer. They didn't want to hang outside or ride bikes. In fact, they didn't even give a crap about my musical priorities. I guess when the time is right I'll learn to have fun. With someone like me, I know I will in the future because I'm someone who strives not to let myself down. I also just have fun along the way. You know, I meet musicians just like myself. People that I can relate to and that I can look up to no matter how much older or younger they are. I heard someone say the phrase,” Focus on the music, and everything else will come into place.” Whoever said that was sheer genius.

[MaxRossell]

Originally Posted by Funkadelic Monk

That's true, but with the way today is (music industry wise), I don't know what to do. I want to become great one day, and for someone like me I go with "work first, play later." Of course, I'm having fun playing the guitar, but I wont get anything done if I'm sitting around and watching television. Yes, the "great ones" may have fooled around, but that was the time where they didn't have the luxury that we have like high-speed internet or cable TV. The only friends I had recently were people who wanted to do just that: watch television or zone out into the computer. They didn't want to hang outside or ride bikes. In fact, they didn't even give a crap about my musical priorities. I guess when the time is right I'll learn to have fun. With someone like me, I know I will in the future because I'm someone who strives not to let myself down. I also just have fun along the way. You know, I meet musicians just like myself. People that I can relate to and that I can look up to no matter how much older or younger they are. I heard someone say the phrase,” Focus on the music, and everything else will come into place.” Whoever said that was sheer genius.

Fair enough. Sounds like you've got yourself pretty well grounded.

Just don't feel like you need to start making definitive decisions about what you want to be or what you want to do just yet. Think about it, sure, but you still have loads of time. Don't panic. And above all, the music industry is not something you want to be worrying about at the moment.

[MaxRossell]

Originally Posted by CTBassman60

Um...what are you doing on here when you could be playing?

Good point, well made.