Practice schedule/method?

[Exemonium]

Does anyone have a practice method that they go by? Back when I was taking jazz guitar lessons he had a little breakdown on what I should be aiming for in each practice session. then he broke it down on if it was an hour, 1/2 hour, or longer.
I lost it and he has since moved away, not that I remember his name anyway haha, it was a while ago.

What I kind of remember it being was something along the lines of

~5-10 min warmups/ scales
~10 min exercises
~20 min sight reading
the rest working on material or improv or voicings and such.

Now that's just a rough little idea. But has anyone done, stuck to, or doing anything similar that's REALLY worked for them? I'm pushing hard on my practicing, but I'm at the point where I'm just learning some songs and that's about it. I keep searching for good exercises and I'll do some of those. Just looking to see what everyone's approach is that they use and has worked for them. I'm moving soon so getting an instructor isn't the greatest for me right now...money or time wise.

[Euphony]

I have 2 bass books: one for beginners with a lot of exercises to improve coordination and to work on rhythms, and another called All About Bass by Chad Johnson, which is a lot more theory and has every kind of musical style you can think of.

I usually start by doing scales and sometimes arpeggios/warmups. Then I work on the exercises in the beginners book, and then move on to All About Bass. I skip around in that book a lot because I'm not good enough yet for many of the exercises. And it's really more about theory and learning the role of the bass than exercises. I think it will be more helpful with writing original music.

I also started looking around for some online lessons. I'm not too interested in tabs or playing songs right now.

I plan on getting a teacher soon, though. Right now I'm just trying to get better at the basics.

[Scottgun]

I'd say whatever keeps you consistently practicing rather than going for a spurt of hard work and then pooping out as the grind wears on. One method of course is what you describe--committing to a block of time and breaking it up into specific tasks. The drawback is that some people get resistance to sitting down for a long period of time and having trouble getting started. (Watch this and see if you identify.)

Another unusual method I've heard is to commit to 5 minutes of practice a say with the option to do as much as you want. The object being simply to get the instrument in your hands and playing consistently.The drawback being that there is temptation to fiddle about rather than grind for progress. You ought to do as Reverend Gary Davis advises: "Every time you pick up your guitar play your lesson. Don't play nothing else." (Gratuitous link to awesomeness.)

I got half a mind to come up with a combo of the two. Perhaps get a hat and fill it with practices tasks and draw from it.

[Billnc]

I warm up on something I have to play slowly, that's part of my lesson.
2. Some sort of practice to play through changes. Stolen licks, chord tone exercises etc.
3. Reading pieces, trombone music, charts from scores etc, just beyond my ability, not really trying to perform them, though if I encounter a difficult passage I will isolate that and practice that.
4. Use the Aebersold play alongs to use the improv stuff I've been working on.

Later is band work, work cd's, working out charts etc. I don't count that as practice time.

[bassandbeyond]

I don't think it's possible to produce a specific itemized list that's appropriate for everyone at every stage....you should spend your practice time working on NEW stuff, stuff that you're currently weak at. One general recommendation I would make is to start each practice session with something slow to warm up. After that, you should be constantly revising your regimen as you progress in different skills. There's an article on general practice tips on my site.

[Scottgun]

Originally Posted by bassandbeyond

There's an article on general practice tips on my site.

Which says everything I was trying to say and more, and about ten times better.

[bassandbeyond]

Aw, shucks.

[Exemonium]

Thanks everybody!