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New Dad - Limited Time - What to practice?

G

Groovin1122

Apr 16, 2020
86
90
#1
I am completely out of routine since my son was born 2 months old now. Lately, if I play at all in a week I basically grab the bass and noodle, practice 2-octave arpeggio shapes, think about interesting intervals, youtube drum tracks, etc... nothing structured.

Resources I own: All of Jeff Berlins Online Lessons, Talkingbass Sight reading, Chord Tones, Walking Bass, Janek Gwizdala 251 book. Berklee Music Jazz Book + A Few Youtube Channels I love - Dan Hawkins major shout out!!

So If I were to sit down for 10-20 minutes a day what should I go to? This is just a season where I need to stick to something and do it/not think about what to do. I'll have more time in the future to broaden my horizons.

If there was 1 resource I have or one you recommend that I use as my sole practice routine what would you say?

**Irony is that I just got my dream bass before my son was born and I haven't been able to enjoy it as much as I would like**
 
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#2
I don't have advice on what to play, I'm sure others will help there... but my experience when my son was born was that I just didn't have time to focus. For a long time I would pick up the bass a couple of times a week and noodle around, play a couple of songs and then put it down again. Over time i lost my skills and got more disheartened. After a year I decided to put my bass away until I could focus.. only then I had another kid and it all started again! It took me about 8 years to start properly again (in Jan this year). Now I'm solid 2hrs a day, got a teacher for the first time and am in love again.

I'm not trying to scare you here, but just saying that sometimes life gets in the way and it's ok to take a pause for a while to focus on more important things.

Congrats on the baby, enjoy the time... He'll be nicking your car keys before you know it ;)
 
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#3
WrapRough said:
I don't have advice on what to play, I'm sure others will help there... but my experience when my son was born was that I just didn't have time to focus. For a long time I would pick up the bass a couple of times a week and noodle around, play a couple of songs and then put it down again. Over time i lost my skills and got more disheartened. After a year I decided to put my bass away until I could focus.. only then I had another kid and it all started again! It took me about 8 years to start properly again (in Jan this year). Now I'm solid 2hrs a day, got a teacher for the first time and am in love again.

I'm not trying to scare you here, but just saying that sometimes life gets in the way and it's ok to take a pause for a while to focus on more important things.

Congrats on the baby, enjoy the time... He'll be nicking your car keys before you know it ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you! yeah, it's sobering how much it changes your life...but in the best way! Lifting and bass playing has been put aside for now but I don't want to lose it! Even just to have something productive to work on was so rewarding. Idk, would love others' feedback/perspective.
 
#4
I would think about this as going into "maintenance mode" for a while, and as such almost anything you do with a bass in your hands and your fingers moving will be helpful. I would just practice arpeggios and scales up and down the neck, do some noodling, etc. -- pretty much what you're already doing, or anything else that helps keep your hands and muscle memory from atrophying too much. You probably need these little sessions as relaxation time and/or "me time" as much as anything, so don't put too much pressure on yourself trying to squeeze as much practice as possible into those short respites.
 
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#6
I am in the same boat. I have two boys, four and six, both autistic and one severely. My wife and I both work and I handle therapies during the week.

I try and play stuff that is fun for me first and foremost because music is really my only creative release. I find that I benefit most from learning songs that I can play along with, but… I have way more fun being creative with effects pedals.
 
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#7
Groovin1122 said:
Thank you! yeah, it's sobering how much it changes your life...but in the best way! Lifting and bass playing has been put aside for now but I don't want to lose it! Even just to have something productive to work on was so rewarding. Idk, would love others' feedback/perspective.
Click to expand...

I remember my wife saying to me once "remember when you were a bass player?", to which I replied "I'll always be a bass player, whether I'm playing or not" :)

I also lift and do martial arts, so somethyhsd to give. And considering I put on fat just looking at food, I needed to keep my my gym and martial arts up or I'd end up a right tubster.

You'll figure it out dude. As has been said, just don't put too much pressure on yourself. Bass ain't going anywhere!
 
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#8
Congrats on the baby! Manage your expectations. This is probably not a time in your life when your bass skills are going to advance much. If you can steal 10 minutes here or there each day just to keep the rust off I'd say go for it. Anything is better than nothing.

I picked up the bass as an adult, but my youngest was 10 years old at the time. I'm not sure I could have done it any sooner than that. The plus was, he was taking guitar lessons, so we'd go off to our teachers together.

The fun part will come when your kid(s) are older and you can introduce them to the greatest instrument ever!
 
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#9
Two months old is still in the “what have I done” phase, but things will ease up a little soon.

You could sit down on the floor with a bass during tummy time, and play the theme to Mission Impossible. Then for the rest of his life whenever he hears that song...just kidding...that is not how memory works.

I used to practice bass quietly while my son slept in one of those little bouncy rocker/seats. And I was using an amp at a very low volume.
 
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#13
I have limited time. And I've found practicing Jazz etudes to be a good 'catch all'..

Sight reading
Working with a metronome
Playing over changes
Transposing
Lick vocabulary
Harmony

Either that or just start transposing solos; use this time to ear your ear trained up.
 
#18
Congrats! It's a fun and exhausting time. At that age I loved to just sit the kid on my lap and play bass. Or if he was in his bassinet or whatever else I'd play to him. I also made sure to never be too quiet in the house. I wouldn't play at full volume, but I would never try to be silent either. Now that he's older the kid has no problems falling asleep to my band jamming in the basement (pre covid that is) and he frequently asks me to play his favorite songs. Music is the thing that keeps me mentally stable, so my wife and I worked to ensure that I could continue to make music while being able to incorporate the kid. The baby age goes fast. Blink and you'll miss it.
 
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#19
Practice getting your kid used to music in the house. Pretty simple answer for a simple question.

Do you move out to the country so your kid won’t hear a car? Do you give away your dog so your kid can’t experience it barking? Do you and mom use signs so the kid won’t hear you talk? Play music in the house including music you make. Only way to ensure you don’t raise a kid who doesn’t like music.
 

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