Practice Rating Sheet - Sharing & Input Requested

[loungesurfer]

Hi all,

A few months back I was struggling in building a consistent practice regime and I built the attached practice rating sheet to help. While it has helped keep my focus I still find myself drifting on occasion.

I'm sharing the attached for everyone's feedback and for their use.

Feel free to provide feedback or suggestions as appropriate.

Thanks, Denys (aka Loungesurfer)

 

[onlyclave]

What I see missing on your practice sheet is anything about playing music. At what point do you work on that? Endless exercises on alternate fingering, spider exercises, scales, arpeggios, etc. don't lend themselves well to being more musical.

 

[Chris K]

What I see missing on your practice sheet is anything about playing music. At what point do you work on that? Endless exercises on alternate fingering, spider exercises, scales, arpeggios, etc. don't lend themselves well to being more musical.

+1
- listening to (simple) songs, playing along by ear
- simple melodies (children's songs etc.) by ear
- improvising over simple melodies
- rhythm/basic grooves (rock, funk, latin etc.)
- dynamics (louder < > softer)
- articulation (staccato, legato)
etc.

You know, technique tends to be overrated. The bass guitar isn't particularly hard to play (I know since played many other instruments). But to make it sound like music isn't that easy.

 

[loungesurfer]

Thanks for the suggestions - I agree I need to concentrate more on playing songs, etc. and have started to do that using songs from Real Book. There's no doubt that after 4 years of practicing I'm still stuck in a methods ditch - that's 3 years initially, followed by a 4 year break, then picked it back up again last year.

My focus has changed over the past couple months, but have to admit that it takes more persistence learning songs, melodies, etc. as opposed to practicing technique. It's so easy to pick up the bass do some technique sessions and consider it practice.

Given I travel on business every other week it's difficult to fit in formal lessons, however, I do take a bass with me to practice in the evenings. But after a 10-12 hour day it's tough getting the energy to practice anything other than technique - kind of a cop out.

Thanks - I'll put more emphasis on the right things and put in the effort.
Denys (aka Loungesurfer)