After 30+ years I think I'm less energetic but more objective.
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I Learned Better When I Had No Money (& No Internet)
- Thread starter Smallmouth_Bass
- Start date
Depends on the context and what you're working on. I agree that there's SO MUCH out there in terms of material (thanks YouTube) to practice that it can get overwhelming. The paralysis of choice (again). I'm glad I had no choice but to work with a few choice materials and maximize them, versus the onslaught of technical bass wizards and gymnasts you see trying to dazzle people on YouTube, and trying to filter THOSE distractions too.
I started playing in 1997. I picked up 'The Bass Player Book', published by Bass Player Magazine, at my local music store. It had a ton of great exercises in it, guides to buying gear, reading exercises, etc. Honestly, it was a great 'beginner's bible' so to speak. That, coupled with a few measly exercises and materials from theory websites which were available on the internet then, got me through my first 2 or 3 years well enough that I was set up fairly well going into college theory courses (and playing with others). I subscribed to Bass Player Magazine too. I also was an only child and literally made music my sole focus in my tiny bedroom at home. Yeah, we had internet, but no social media and no phones to occupy our attention. I also joined a band with friends in my first year or so of playing. Invaluable experience for sure. Now, 27 years later at almost 44 years old, my ability to pick things up by ear and navigate most musical situations allows me to compensate for the decrease in available time in my day which used to be seemingly limitless. Day job, exercise, other responsibilities definitely take away time for music focus. Even when I was playing music 'full time' across 3 or 4 different bands at a time, practice time was minimal. I spent more time prepping charts, driving to gigs, and playing that 'practice time' was minimal, and in the service of learning tunes for shows/rehearsal. Phone usage can be a problem, but I grew up without the internet till I was 12 or 13, so I've always been careful about how much time I use it. I still can put it away and be fine. As you get older, it's definitely about managing distractions, but your skills overall should be sharpened and refined to a point where you can do as much (or more) with less time as you progress as a player too. My biggest issue now is carving out enough time each day after I get home from work to make real progress with writing and recording. I need time to get into the 'space' to get inspired, and that doesn't always happen in the hour or 2 you slot into the evening. But - even my day gig is involved with recording/engineering, so I'm always thinking about music/recording/sound - and sometimes my brain needs a break. It's always a balance.
In terms of physically executing things on the instrument, my facility is as good or better now than it was in my early years because I'm a healthier and stronger person now. I exercise all the time, lift weights, quit alcohol, never smoked, get 8 hours of sleep.... all of those keep you sharp. There will always be distractions. There also will always be ways to preserve and optimize what you already have learned.
I started playing in 1997. I picked up 'The Bass Player Book', published by Bass Player Magazine, at my local music store. It had a ton of great exercises in it, guides to buying gear, reading exercises, etc. Honestly, it was a great 'beginner's bible' so to speak. That, coupled with a few measly exercises and materials from theory websites which were available on the internet then, got me through my first 2 or 3 years well enough that I was set up fairly well going into college theory courses (and playing with others). I subscribed to Bass Player Magazine too. I also was an only child and literally made music my sole focus in my tiny bedroom at home. Yeah, we had internet, but no social media and no phones to occupy our attention. I also joined a band with friends in my first year or so of playing. Invaluable experience for sure. Now, 27 years later at almost 44 years old, my ability to pick things up by ear and navigate most musical situations allows me to compensate for the decrease in available time in my day which used to be seemingly limitless. Day job, exercise, other responsibilities definitely take away time for music focus. Even when I was playing music 'full time' across 3 or 4 different bands at a time, practice time was minimal. I spent more time prepping charts, driving to gigs, and playing that 'practice time' was minimal, and in the service of learning tunes for shows/rehearsal. Phone usage can be a problem, but I grew up without the internet till I was 12 or 13, so I've always been careful about how much time I use it. I still can put it away and be fine. As you get older, it's definitely about managing distractions, but your skills overall should be sharpened and refined to a point where you can do as much (or more) with less time as you progress as a player too. My biggest issue now is carving out enough time each day after I get home from work to make real progress with writing and recording. I need time to get into the 'space' to get inspired, and that doesn't always happen in the hour or 2 you slot into the evening. But - even my day gig is involved with recording/engineering, so I'm always thinking about music/recording/sound - and sometimes my brain needs a break. It's always a balance.
In terms of physically executing things on the instrument, my facility is as good or better now than it was in my early years because I'm a healthier and stronger person now. I exercise all the time, lift weights, quit alcohol, never smoked, get 8 hours of sleep.... all of those keep you sharp. There will always be distractions. There also will always be ways to preserve and optimize what you already have learned.
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I am actually better at learning songs now than I ever have been. As long is it is not overly complex, I can have a standard notation chart made up in an evening or two. If I am really pressed and have a deadline, I can usually hunker down and get a lot done. I go through phases, depending on what my band(s) are doing at any given moment.
But, I feel like learning songs and practicing music (as in my musical skills) are two different things. Learning songs are things I can do, so I do not feel like I am advancing my knowledge on that front - I am just maintaining that skill. Truth is, I have never been much for practicing scales, chord tones and that type of stuff, so I feel like my musical vocabulary is limited.
I think I can get away with less today better than ever before. I think it's interesting to own a couple nice enough instruments if you get the chance, if only to get a feeling of how proper "pro" gear plays and sounds. If, in parallel, you develop enough bass tech skills there will be little to no basses you can't make to play and sound "pro". My bass GAS peaked 20 years ago, with a couple Singray5s I own. Apart from that I own 2 sub 1000$ basses, 2 sub 500$ basses and 1 sub 300$ bass and 4 sub 150$ basses. For one, the quality of cheap instruments has gone up astronomically. But also I can setup and overall tune or even modify any instrument to make it rock to my liking. Over my bass ownership history I've discarded many bass guitars, cheap or expensive, just because of my own ineptitude/inexperience.
Don't get me wrong, I still GAS as hard as the next guy. I'm just cheap, and it gets easier each day to get away with it when it comes to bass gear. Having also some mileage, I see few reasons to GAS too far high.
Don't get me wrong, I still GAS as hard as the next guy. I'm just cheap, and it gets easier each day to get away with it when it comes to bass gear. Having also some mileage, I see few reasons to GAS too far high.
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Sorry to be blunt but age has something to do with learning decline. And totally applies to me as well.
But I would argue that the internet or videos made it slower. As to distractions it's up to you to be disciplined to focus.
For example, I've only attended 1 live Barry Harris improvisational class in the 90's. And today I have access to more. But yeah you do have to have a certain level of understanding before digesting his material which I've learned from studying jazz informally at a young age. However, these days there are more resources to study jazz informally so that you can digest a video of Barry Harris class.
But I would argue that the internet or videos made it slower. As to distractions it's up to you to be disciplined to focus.
For example, I've only attended 1 live Barry Harris improvisational class in the 90's. And today I have access to more. But yeah you do have to have a certain level of understanding before digesting his material which I've learned from studying jazz informally at a young age. However, these days there are more resources to study jazz informally so that you can digest a video of Barry Harris class.
Oh, the technology is great! I use Anytune (but there are many similar types of software) to loop parts, slow them down and all that stuff. It's great for learning songs. In that respect, it has made things easier and is a great tool.
I only have the luxury of 8 hours of sleep on vacation and sometimes on the weekend, where I am catching up for the weekdays (where I may get half of that) and/or late night gigs.
We get what we prioritize for sure. It's not a judgment - it's just a statement. As an amateur athlete on top of being a musician, I know that I cannot function on any less than a bare minimum of 6 hours of sleep a night, and being able to recover properly from workouts and training is crucial. Sleep isn't a luxury for me, it's a necessity, and I went for many, many years on substandard amounts of sleep in pursuit of the 'grind'.... especially the years when I still drank alcohol and played bar gigs till 2 or 3am. I was still exercising and keeping up some modicum of a running schedule when I could, which helped to stave off some of the negative effects. I guess I survived it because I was young(er). Getting 8 hours of sleep (or more) now means that I make choices about gigs which might keep me out too late. That being said, the super late night gig scene really kind of died off with the pandemic. That, and the bars/clubs we used to have 15-20 years ago around here no longer exist. The early gigs rule the roost, and most everyone I know is cool with it, especially those with kids.... which I don't have. The road also really, really wrecked me when I did that grind for a while. In bed at 3 or 4 am and then up with the sun, crashing on someone's floor, or in a hotel room if I was lucky, wore me down. It's impossible for me to sleep in once the sun is up.
I know there are folks out there who have the 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' attitude. Usually it just puts people in an early grave. I've lost several music scene compatriots in the last 20 years for health reasons, who didn't take their foot off the gas.
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The good thing about getting such little sleep, is I rarely have trouble falling asleep. I can power nap 15 minutes into full REM which noisy kids in the same room!
I am just a weekend warrior, but yes, of the 2:00-4:00AM home variety. It's tough when it's a Friday and I start my day job at 5:00AM. No drinking on gig nights, that's for sure!
The lockdown was a boom time for my chops. Learning tunes just for my own edification, improving all sorts of skill sets. Now, still retired, but married, and surprisingly, less nimble after only a short time later. Fingers and wrists and shoulders rebel against the demands I used to make of them regularly without complaint. Mental lapses, esp. the ability to remember proper names, is a typical side effect of aging that doesn't automatically indicate Alzheimer's or dementia, just a lot of data storage used up. I play old school games online to keep my mind fit, and play lighter to try to avoid physical pain. Life is just a process of constant adjustments...
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True, for the most part.
The thing is, one secret changed it all for me, despite spending a whole lot of time looking at basses and posting about this or that, whether trying to help out another bassist or simply showing off my latest bass.
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I worked on a few Bach pieces when I just turned 40 and definitely took a little more time memorizing and my mental focus stamina was definitely not what it used to be!
With me, it's a kind of mix and match.
My hands - along with the rest of my health - are much worse than they were 30 years ago. My brain needs more time to grasp new concepts.
Having said that, my patience, concentration and time managing skills have improved tremendously over the course of my life. The path to doing *exactly* what I need to do in order to accomplish a task is not something I was familiar with in my younger years.
In all fairness, being happily retired - as well as amicably separated - helps an awful lot.
On the other hand, *truly* knowing that the end of journey is just around the corner feeds concentration and efficiency in my case.
Internet helps in discovering "new to me" music. It's not a distraction, or a place I visit looking for stuff to learn.
Obviously, YMMV.
My hands - along with the rest of my health - are much worse than they were 30 years ago. My brain needs more time to grasp new concepts.
Having said that, my patience, concentration and time managing skills have improved tremendously over the course of my life. The path to doing *exactly* what I need to do in order to accomplish a task is not something I was familiar with in my younger years.
In all fairness, being happily retired - as well as amicably separated - helps an awful lot.
On the other hand, *truly* knowing that the end of journey is just around the corner feeds concentration and efficiency in my case.
Internet helps in discovering "new to me" music. It's not a distraction, or a place I visit looking for stuff to learn.
Obviously, YMMV.
My sense is that we only have a certain amount of available mental capacity per day.
So-called distractions like internet/phone etc consume part of that capacity, irrespective of whether they are used for learning, entertainment or communication. The same may apply re fantasising about that new bass, amp, pedal to "become a better player".
I try to use online resources as simply a tool for improvement in technique and the internet can absolutely assist in that way, but it's so easy to be seduced down an unproductive rabbit hole.
Brain synapses slow down in older adults.
Choir is learning a Cantata for Christmas. I've listened to the separated tenor track maybe 3 times since receiving the CD.
I did well for a guy who only listened 3 times.
It's easier without the staff. I've never been a good music reader.
Choir is learning a Cantata for Christmas. I've listened to the separated tenor track maybe 3 times since receiving the CD.
I did well for a guy who only listened 3 times.
It's easier without the staff. I've never been a good music reader.
One reason I try to avoid Facebook: you start for a reason and the next thing you know, you've just wasted an hour doing nothing! Same with Costco: you have to go in with a list and get out. If you browse, you're toast (and a couple hundred dollars poorer)!
I'm 72 now, retired 16 years and got all the time for drooling and doodling. Internet makes it so much easier and faster for learning new stuff.
They did a study within the last few years on students and cellphones. They tested students while they had their cellphones with them but not using them, as well as students with their phones stowed away and not on their person.
The students without the phones had better memory retention and scored higher on testing than the students with their cellphones.
I recommend that anyone try and take some cellphone breaks. Take them out of your pockets and leave them on a night stand every once in a while. This is what I do on my days off and if I’m not on call for work.
The students without the phones had better memory retention and scored higher on testing than the students with their cellphones.
I recommend that anyone try and take some cellphone breaks. Take them out of your pockets and leave them on a night stand every once in a while. This is what I do on my days off and if I’m not on call for work.
I turn my phone off at 8:30/9pm every night, and it stays in my studio to charge. We do have a VOIP 'land line' phone in the house for emergencies that only a few people have, so they can reach us if mine or my wife's cell phone is off.
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