Anyone here heard of the 10,000 hr theory?

Mr wiggl3s · #1 01-25-2011, 01:08 PM

Summed up version and the book form.

This actually makes sense. I think it could be spot on. I'm going to get this book and read it.

Has anyone heard of it? Opinions (from those who have heard of it)?

stratovani · #2 01-25-2011, 01:22 PM

I've heard of it, and it makes sense. If only I had developed a passion for bass playing back in my younger days, and if only I didn't have ADD, I might have been a successful touring act musician. Of course, there's always a bit of luck involved. No use crying over woulda-coulda-shouldas, thought - you're dealt a hand of cards, and you gotta play with the cards that's dealt!

PSPookie · #3 01-25-2011, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

I've heard of it, and it makes sense.

Ditto. This is also why many people never get that good at anything; they're just not inspired/willing enough to put in the time.

Jim Nazium · #4 01-25-2011, 01:51 PM

I think it makes some sense, but I'm a little hesitant because I think that not all practice hours are equal. You know, you can sit down and play through songs you already know, or you can sit down with a recording of (name your favorite player) and try to figure out a new passage you haven't played before. I think the latter is a much more useful (and much more difficult) way to spend an hour. I think that quality hours like that are what is really required, not just bulk hours where you don't really learn anything.

iamlowsound · #5 01-25-2011, 02:04 PM

That makes sense to me. I am a good carpenter and I would have around that many hours in, maybe a little less. Most 4 year bachelor degrees would have you in the 8000-9000 hour range, if you do all your reading ect.

lowsound

DwaynieAD · #6 01-25-2011, 02:12 PM

you need a book to tell you practice makes perfect?

waleross · #7 01-25-2011, 02:14 PM

I am currently reading the book called BOUNCE by Matthew Syed. the 10,000 hour practice theory is discussed with sports,music and other endeavors. This book deals with the science of success and you will find it interesting as I am.

MJ5150 · #8 01-25-2011, 02:31 PM

Dang, 10,000 hours? Is there a 10 hour version I can go with instead? But hey, if it was something gnarly like time travel, I would be willing to try a 100 hour version.

-Mike

MatticusMania · #9 01-25-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you need a book to tell you practice makes perfect?

+1?

machine gewehr · #10 01-26-2011, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you need a book to tell you practice makes perfect?

Exactly.TB-Technique forums are full of good advice plus the practice makes perfect advice.

I remember once John Myung and Petrucci made a promise to each other that they'd at least practice ~8 hours a day.No wonder they're two of the very successful musicians in the history of music.

Stanley Design · #11 01-26-2011, 04:56 AM

3 hours a day, every day, for 10 years will make you good at anything? Not too far fetched for me to believe it.

hbarcat · #12 01-26-2011, 11:21 AM

I 100% agree with the 10,000 hour theory (there was a thread on it about 2 years ago though I searched for it and couldn't find it).

I consider myself a good, solid bassist, and so do a lot of people who come to our gigs. It took me almost 20 years to get to that point and that's about 12,000 hours, by my estimate.

**jmattbassplaya** · #13 01-26-2011, 11:35 AM

It makes sense, but it also kinda seems like a "no duh" sort of thing, too. If you practice at anything long enough you'll eventually get good at it.

tplyons · #14 01-26-2011, 11:53 AM

As far as the book goes, anything by Malcom Gladwell is a fascinating read. I spent about 10,000 hours reading his last book.

Mr wiggl3s · #15 01-27-2011, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you need a book to tell you practice makes perfect?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

+1?

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

Exactly.TB-Technique forums are full of good advice plus the practice makes perfect advice.

I remember once John Myung and Petrucci made a promise to each other that they'd at least practice ~8 hours a day.No wonder they're two of the very successful musicians in the history of music.

No. But i did like that a book to put a concrete stamp on it, instead of working towards some arbitrary "makes perfect" goal.

champbassist · #16 01-27-2011, 05:22 AM

A guy on Ultimate-Guitar.com started this thread and claimed he would practice 10,000 hours, record his progress and upload it on YT to 'check' this theory. It's up to you to draw your conclusions from his claim, but he seemed fairly genuine to me.

IMO, though, I really don't think you can put a numerical figure such as 10k hours to this. There IS something such as natural talent depending on which the time required to 'master' something/become a virtuoso may vary (with an obvious question mark hanging over what the objective definition of 'mastery' or 'virtuoso' is).