Staying motivated through isolation

[RickyRocknRoll]

For the first couple weeks I was too depressed and freaked out to practice. In the last week I've been able to get back into it, and I try to practice every day. I really miss my musical buddies though.

Same here. Been out of work for almost three weeks now - "temporary layoff" due to you-all-know-what. Frankly, I'm more concerned about worldwide economy and the aftermath of all this. I'm still a bit depressed and freaked out but I managed to grab a bass during last week. Will get back into it a lot more next week, there is nothing I can do about what's happening right now and I can't worry all the time. It is what it is. But yeah, motivation is hard to find. I'm realizing I work a lot better under pressure.

 

[MrLenny1]

Playing material I never do or work on.
2 hours a day in one hour segments.

 

[IamGroot]

Coffee.

 

[juggahnaught]

I'm working my way through some Anthony Jackson parts. Sure is keeping me busy...

Unrelated to the thread, but I'd never heard this track. Listened to the first couple of minutes - awesome! Definitely adding to my inspiration pile. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[LowActionHero]

I haven't been all that motivated myself, until my younger son asked me for guitar lessons. Starting to get the bug again!

 

[Standalone]

I'm having a great musical time with the enforced isolation. Exploring pedal board combinations and levels, signing up for online lessons, listening to my buddies posts and playing along.

Keeping a bass out and handy in my living space and not just the studio is important.

 

[Bass Momma]

I'm recording both parts of Bach's invention 4 arranged as a duet for 2 basses. It's taken me all day, and I still haven't managed a clean recording of the first part. Oh, and it sounds terrible. I expect I might get both done - I didn't say well! - shortly after we get a vaccine.

Stay well, all!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

One thing I've done during the shutdown is run through numerous pedalboard configurations. I've arrived at my final version. Going to have a lot of pedals for sale when lockdown ends.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Something I didn't mention in my initial response that may be a factor in determining where we lie on the scale of "affectedness."
I'm a full-time work-from-home musician. This is not a sudden forced isolation, it's my normal condition.
So (before) a normal morning was scanning CL and FB looking for opportunities, working on ways to promote my active projects, and other administrivia.
Afternoons are housework/yardwork depending on the priority list and weather.
Evenings are practice time - usually running through the setlist for whatever gig is next.
Wife (RN) comes home from work around midnight, dinner, bed, repeat.

So - mornings are weird, because there are no opportunities and nothing to promote.
Housework and yardwork are never-ending, of course...
There is no setlist because there is no next gig - not for at least a month.
So I'm trying to stay proficient, working on theory and improvisation, and I suppose I should rosin up a bow and work on arco like I've been telling myself I would some day...

Anyway - I sympathise with those of you dealing with sudden separation and isolation. That part's normal for me. And I expect it's been on a lot of introverts' wishlist to which what can I say but 'be careful what you wish for...'

 

[MichelD]

Working on learning treble clef so I've been working through Sight Reading Factory on the 'net, Mel Bay's Violin Method Volume One by Frank Zucco, playing the bass. Yesterday I picked up the Usborne Book of Easy Recorder Tunes 9780746004579: The Usborne Book of Easy Recorder Tunes - AbeBooks - Hawthorn, P.: 0746004575

at a free book box and just now flipped it open to "Ode to joy" by Beethoven and I could play it! This is a major step for me.

 

[JDA04OSU]

I second the idea of playing with new pedals, which may freshen things up for you and keep it fun... for me, effects provide motivation to tinker around, and sometimes give rise to really unique ideas I never would've stumbled on with a clean tone.

I'm still working (on the front lines of this whole pandemic thing), so I use my free time to hide in the basement and plug away at YouTube lessons. Also just got back into my slap instructional book that I bought almost 20 years ago and never quite finished. Set some learning goals, write them down, and post them in a visible place... that might also give you some motivation.

Last suggestion would be to collaborate remotely with your friends or bandmates. Guitar player has a riff or progression he wants to develop? Have him send a track your way, and lay down a bass line to it on your own DAW. Then pass it on to your drummer to lay down a beat. And so forth.

 

[Jefenator]

By the time I get my guitar & mandolin playing up to snuff, and have enough repertoire worked up to do an extended livestream (like a bunch of my buddies are already doing) that's about the time the real gig scene will begin to reawaken - and back to bass I will likely go.
But for now that's what's keeping me motivated. I know from prior experience that my bass playing will benefit from shedding on other instruments. (And you never know - I might wind up playing them in public more often.)

 

[garp]

Love that book! Worked out of that one back when I took some lessons

It was gifted to me by a generous, professional jazz musician who kindly advised me: "Here's where you should begin."

 

[lfmn16]

I won't say it's NEVER happened to me, but I can't remember the last time I wasn't motivated to practice, other than a day here or there. If you're not motivated then don't practice. Come back to it when you're ready.

 

[sean_on_bass]

A lot of us practice to prepare for something in the future. Keep your future goals in mind and that will hopefully motivate practice. There has really been no better time to slow down, and hit the shed to get better at what you do. I am using the lack of need to prepare for a gig as a time to delve deeper into my skill set and come out of this a better player/musician. That's the opportunity that i choose to see as given to me through this whole thing. I finally get to execute my own version of what Sonny Rollins did:

 

[bassdude51]

Eat, drink and TV.

 

[MichelD]

I'm working on my reading treble clef skill one baby step at a time.

Eventually I hope to be able to read the heads on the real book standards a couple of my jam buddies favour.

I found an "Easy recorder tunes" book in a free book box and now can read my way through Hymn to joy by Beethoven, Au claire de la lune and Drunken sailor in treble clef. Big big step for me.

Yesterday I started working on the Minuet from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart.

 

[Xjenrbcjsmsbfjw]

IMHO people are making too big a deal out of the, "USE THIS TIME TO BE PRODUCTIVE!!!!! Newton invented calculus during a plague year!" Things are annoying right now, it's ok to feel that way.

My practice has gone from a pre-COVID 25% fun stuff I love/75% things I need for professional obligations to more like 90% things I love/10% things I'll need in a few months for professional obligations, because A. I can catch up when everyone is knocking off the rust then anyway and B. right now my mood has more value than playing perfectly tight at my next paying show. That isn't always the case, but when I'm locked inside not getting the fun of gigging live it is.

I'd rather be rough around the edges at my first handful of gigs back and use music to enjoy myself now than drudge away like a zombie trying to "use this time well."

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

My bass routine is somewhat fixed: 15 minutes of walking bass from that Constructing Walking Jazz lines book; 15 to 25 minutes of Bass Aerobics and then whatever the heck I wanna play. Today it's gonna either be some reggae riddims or carry on working on The Real Me. This all keeps me in shape bass wise.

On the ukulele, I have yet to find a routine. Since I do not sing I focus on incorporating melody into rhythm, so I do not just strum basic chords. Ain't nothing wrong with that but it's not my thing.

 

[Depth_Charge]

Ever since my state had been given a stay-at-home order, I've been forced to stay inside, giving me time to work and play music. However, I am having a hard time finding the motivation to practice. What are you all doing to stay motivated?

I've been working from home for around 5 weeks and it's been great. The bands I am in (one original, one cover, one tribute) are all on hold so I've focussed on learning songs I want to learn - I've picked up 5 new tunes in 5 nights which is unbelievable, and each a bit out of reach and a bit of a challenge, so that's a plus.

I try to work on theory but I've been trying for 30 years, and I always gravitate back to jamming songs either by tab, or more recently by ear, as I find I pick up little nuances and other subtle things you don't see in tabs when I listen and learn. I just struggle a bit without the theory on the ear training...vicious cycle haha.

Because I'm a hobbyist who normally practices what I want when I want with no routine or real goals (except the paying gig stuff), I sometimes make very little progress...but I reckon in the past few weeks I've advanced as much as I would in months, and I'm really enjoying taking things up a notch