There is a current thread by Arigorn35016 that asks us to give feed back. After I made my suggestions I began to think that it might be a good time to visit the topic of practice routines that was last raised as threads some time ago. This may be of use as we resume after the worst effects of Covid.
I have been pondering over the differences , if any, between How To Practice Successfully, How To Practice For Success and How to Practice Effectively. Whether you choose to laugh, cry or agree these are my thoughts.
In How To Practice Successfully I see that generally there is a need to create a technique of practicing which involves a structure of warming up with technique checks, technical development, work on current performance material and musical development through repertoire. It involves the nuts and bolts of where you practice, how long and how often you practice and, while needing some self discipline and regularity, is often a bit more laid back and less ambitious. It can be a source of deep pleasure, not a drudge, as you develop and may not have a definite end goal yet.
In How To Practice For Success I see a range of possibilities that bring into question an Understanding of Deliberate Practice by Colvin that is worth checking out via Google IMO.The young aspirant who spends (too) many hours practicing each day, trying to maintain white hot fierce concentration on a single goal of career success worries me because there maybe no alternative plan B. Quantity over Quality adds the risks of burnout and injury. But the same intensity might be required for a relatively short time to confront once and for all a specific area of weakness such as sight reading, vibrato, intonation, speed, mapping the fingerboard, etc. This needs you to clearly understand the problem, ways to best address it and recognise success.
In How To Practice Effectively I can see the advantages for having both long and short term realistic goals. Somewhere between the above two levels of intensity you should achieve faster technical results, leave more time to develop repertoire and musicianship and still enjoy playing. This will need you to keep a very clear mind and smart routine that manages your available practice time carefully and maintains enjoyment of playing the bass. Hopefully your progress leads to making good music with better and better players in your chosen genre.
I have read a little old book called The Living Touch in Music and Education by H. Edgar Hunt (1924) that is still in print after 100 years. Its 30 short chapters contain heaps of gems for both serious teachers and students, still very relevant today. The excellent one I can't reproduce for you is called Points on Practice.
You can see its similarity to Deliberate Practice and he recognised the worth of Visualisation as a valid practice tool so many years before Barry Green's Inner Game of Music came out. IMO well worth a read!!
Making good music with others was always my ultimate aim and I took a long and often very ineffective practice route to achieve my ultimate goal, to be a professional player in a big symphony orchestra. Now I am in maintenance mode as I end my career so please pardon my pontificating above. I mean well.
Cheers everyone, and keep safe.
DP
I have been pondering over the differences , if any, between How To Practice Successfully, How To Practice For Success and How to Practice Effectively. Whether you choose to laugh, cry or agree these are my thoughts.
In How To Practice Successfully I see that generally there is a need to create a technique of practicing which involves a structure of warming up with technique checks, technical development, work on current performance material and musical development through repertoire. It involves the nuts and bolts of where you practice, how long and how often you practice and, while needing some self discipline and regularity, is often a bit more laid back and less ambitious. It can be a source of deep pleasure, not a drudge, as you develop and may not have a definite end goal yet.
In How To Practice For Success I see a range of possibilities that bring into question an Understanding of Deliberate Practice by Colvin that is worth checking out via Google IMO.The young aspirant who spends (too) many hours practicing each day, trying to maintain white hot fierce concentration on a single goal of career success worries me because there maybe no alternative plan B. Quantity over Quality adds the risks of burnout and injury. But the same intensity might be required for a relatively short time to confront once and for all a specific area of weakness such as sight reading, vibrato, intonation, speed, mapping the fingerboard, etc. This needs you to clearly understand the problem, ways to best address it and recognise success.
In How To Practice Effectively I can see the advantages for having both long and short term realistic goals. Somewhere between the above two levels of intensity you should achieve faster technical results, leave more time to develop repertoire and musicianship and still enjoy playing. This will need you to keep a very clear mind and smart routine that manages your available practice time carefully and maintains enjoyment of playing the bass. Hopefully your progress leads to making good music with better and better players in your chosen genre.
I have read a little old book called The Living Touch in Music and Education by H. Edgar Hunt (1924) that is still in print after 100 years. Its 30 short chapters contain heaps of gems for both serious teachers and students, still very relevant today. The excellent one I can't reproduce for you is called Points on Practice.
You can see its similarity to Deliberate Practice and he recognised the worth of Visualisation as a valid practice tool so many years before Barry Green's Inner Game of Music came out. IMO well worth a read!!
Making good music with others was always my ultimate aim and I took a long and often very ineffective practice route to achieve my ultimate goal, to be a professional player in a big symphony orchestra. Now I am in maintenance mode as I end my career so please pardon my pontificating above. I mean well.
Cheers everyone, and keep safe.
DP
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