Here's a topic...

[mongo2]

I'll take my chances that playing and practicing for 5 years would do a lot more to improve my playing than not touching an instrument for that time.

 

[lbbc]

I don't make my living as a musician but truly love playing bass, practicing, learning new songs and improving on my bass playing skills...so, no

 

[Timmah]

I voted no, mostly because I like it too much. I also think I could be more than twice as good five years from now if I buckled down and practiced with some conviction instead of noodling all the time.

if I were forced to go five years without playing an instrument, though, I guess it wouldn’t be all bad. I could always take up drums

 

[LowActionHero]

Of course I'd like to get 'better', but 5 years is a steep price.

So, NO.

5 years of practice will (would) get me close enough...

 

[dave64o]

I suck so, with the same level of practice that I'm able to fit into my schedule now, I could probably be 20 times better in five years. Not playing for five years to become only twice as good as I am now? No, the math just doesn't work out for me!

 

[drumvsbass]

Since I know I could be more that twice as good in less than half the time while touching the instrument, what exactly are you selling? The pursuit of excellence is a destination point and a motivator, but the playing of the instrument is the reward while travelling to a place you'll never arrive at.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

I got twice as good just by practicing, go figure.

Besides what good is playing well if you can't play?
Dirk

 

[Crash 56]

Im getting too old to put it down for 5 years.... I don't know if I have five years left!

 

[G On Bass]

Wait 5 years to be twice as good only to find that I'm not even half as good as a bunch of other players? No thanks. It's relaxation for me and learning and becoming better incrementally is part of the enjoyment.

 

[Trailertrash74]

At my age I can't afford to give up 5 Years!!

 

[jnuts1]

Exactly, if you asked me when I had four kids all under five years old, and I had basically stopped playing anything, that would have been a great deal. Now that I'm back into playing, no, cuz I kind of feel like I'm getting better at a faster rate than that, and it's my main form of stress relief.

yeah i have 2 and they just turned 6 & 4. i never really stopped just put the brakes on hard. but i still continued to learn nursery rhymes and such. but i agree with you on the faster learning. my 3 year break made something click and its been going great

 

[mongo2]

Update: I just got twice as good by playing a bass I haven't touched in 5 years.

 

[Koshchei]

In five years, I expect to be at least twice as good as I am now by playing and practicing my usual 25 hours a week. So, no.

 

[Pops OB]

Interesting. No, since I doubt I’ve got five years left!

 

[juancaminos]

No, just no.

 

[devnulljp]

How do you get twice as good without playing?

 

[mattj1stc]

I voted no. Only because doubling my current abilities still doesn't amount to all that much and I'd miss playing if I had to sit out for 5 years. Maybe it would make sense if I could become exceptionally good, but at my age, why sit out for so long?

 

[Claymore]

I didn't think it needed clarification but this is a hypothetical situation and an abstract concept. I am in no way implying that it's possible to improve by not playing for 5 years. A few of you seemed bewildered by the scenario and thought this was a real life suggestion. It's a "what if" fantasy.
The vast majority got it. Kudos.

 

[Lagado]

5 years is too long, I'd probably lose interest and take up stamp collecting.

 

[misterCRUSH]

No, because for me playing bass is a refuge. I have schizophrenia and often it is the one and only thing that serves to alleviate my symptoms. Also, I am fairly content with my playing right now...