Why do you practice?

[G On Bass]

In addition to it being an escape/stress reliever, I constantly update or solidify bass lines to originals, or tidy up covers, or work out new tones on the pedalboard. But I just play along to songs, no scales or any of that other stuff that frightens and confuses me.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I practice every day, haven't missed in ages. Generally 90% is about being ready to perform, including always standing up, facing away from the amp like on stage, and going over tunes on our 100 song set list. The other 10% is learning new stuff. I joined a music-accountability group on one of our work channels about our practice schedules, and I'm the only one really sticking with it. I'd appreciate any tips I can pass along to these folks about practice motivation and reward.

‘I practice because I live in morbid fear of embarrassing my band mates as well as myself.

 

[ELG60]

Like many others here, I'm practicing for various reasons:
▪︎Improving my ability as a player
▪︎Learning and improving competence on individual songs both for gigs, and for fun
▪︎Like exercise, practice improves one's attitude and positivity
▪︎Physical dexterity, and memory function enhancement

 

[fishdreams]

In no particular order:

1. To maintain and deepen my connection with music
2. To learn and improve my rendition of performance/recording material
3. To tackle specific technical issues derived from point 2
4. To find spiritual peace

The value of my practice work is determined by: How I practice in the time available to me, not how long I practice as measured in time spent with a bass in my hand-that doesn't signify anything to me.

I also learned that practicing well means different things to everybody - there is no universally right way to do it, to be spreaded around as the gospel for everyone.

 

[badinage]

Because it takes well excuted craftiness to substantially overplay without anyone noticing.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I practice every day, haven't missed in ages. Generally 90% is about being ready to perform, including always standing up, facing away from the amp like on stage, and going over tunes on our 100 song set list. The other 10% is learning new stuff. I joined a music-accountability group on one of our work channels about our practice schedules, and I'm the only one really sticking with it. I'd appreciate any tips I can pass along to these folks about practice motivation and reward.

I practice in order to not forget the songs I need to know for whatever band(s) I am playing in.

Besides that I don't really do what I would call practicing. More just playing, experimenting, composing, recording, enjoying.

 

[shnapper]

To escape life and discover those moments of “how did I just do that” during the learning process…

 

[legalbass]

I practice every day, haven't missed in ages. Generally 90% is about being ready to perform, including always standing up, facing away from the amp like on stage, and going over tunes on our 100 song set list.

This isn't "practice." It's rehearsal. Different thing. Practicing musical content (new or old) to increase and retain musical skill is one thing; getting ready for "the gig" is another.

I practice music because I want to maintain and develop my skill as a lifelong musician. That's pretty much the most important reason I can think of for *anybody* to practice.

Rehearsing by playing music you already know in a manner -- alone or with others -- that helps ensure you'll be an entertaining musician to listen to and watch, is very important, but I don't really think of it as "practice."

Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but I don't think so. They are different concepts.

 

[micguy]

In many decades of playing music, I have run into a few folks here and there where I thought "that person has natural talent - they have a gift for this". When I've asked them about it, eventually they all admitted that they practiced - a lot. A little over a decade ago, when I felt led to start playing again (after a decade off from wrist issues), I decided that maybe this time around, I'd try that "practicing - a lot" thing. When I started, I sucked - I couldn't play at all, really.

A few years later, I started playing gigs - in front of audiences and all that. Over the last 8 or so years, the trend is I keep getting asked to play better gigs with better musicians, to the point where I get to work with some spectacular musicians and vocalists. I sometimes hear people comment about how good I am - somehow I think the secret isn't being naturally gifted, it's practicing - a lot.

So, I practice so I can continue to have great musical experiences with other "naturally gifted" musicians (all of whom practice - a lot).

 

[roccobass]

Because it takes well excuted craftiness to substantially overplay without anyone noticing.

Dang. Now that explanation was well crafted! I’m stealing it!

btw, how did you know my M.O. ?

 

[NKBassman]

50% learning songs I need to learn for pickup/subbing gigs, and generally just keeping the dust off, 30% fun/mental health (it's kind of meditative in a way), 10% trying (and usually failing) to work on technique or learn challenging things, and 10% just monkeying around with pedals.

 

[franklindayala]

To be ready when the time comes.

 

[micguy]

Because it takes well excuted craftiness to substantially overplay without anyone noticing.

I think of it more as building the ability to overplay so tastefully that nobody complains, but yeah, we're in the same general ballpark.

 

[biobass]

Because I think I am making progress.

As you and the great Pablo Casals say, this is a great and primary reason to practice.

I have been playing bass for 57 years. I practice most everyday. I think that I am also making some progress.

In a different vein, I don’t have the exact quote, but in the linear notes for his album Handmade, Mason Williams wrote about practicing a song over and over until he could not play it any better. He decided to stop practicing it, and to go and do good things for others. He found that made him a better person. He was also now able to play the song better. He wrote that it is a cheap trick, but it works!

 

[Bass4Gsus]

To paraphrase an earlier post, I practice to inflict harm to those around me while I practice.

I practice to become better.

I study musicianship and technique. Scales using the Aebersold Major Minor book using Chord tones in a multitude of sequences is very useful. I usually start each practice by running one chord tone sequence in all scales. Work on Real Book material and other Aebersold books and reading.

Prepare for the weekly gig. I play at church and we do 6 new songs every week. These songs might repeat once a year or 4 or 5 times per year. I have 454 songs in my Church “collection” in MobileSheets. A couple we only do once every 3 years. There are also some core pieces that repeat every week that vary by season. I don’t want to be the one at rehearsal that isn’t ready to play. Thankfully I have been doing this long enough that it’s mostly refreshing myself and running through the chord changes once before rehearsal these days. The first two years was real rough.

I also work on music for our jams. We get together once in a while with some other musicians and I need to work through those songs because they are not on my regular listening list. I like most of the songs but some I am bored hearing, some I don’t like enough to actively listen, some are more “pop” and some I never really heard that are from other genre. The songs I add to the list I obviously like so I spend time on those just because they’re fun.

I also try to work with my upright.

It’s tough to strike a balance with technique and practical preparation because I don’t spend the time I should practicing. When I do, time does seem to stop.

I found “The Musician’s Way” by Gerald Klickstein helpful in making the best use of what time I do spend.

 

[smartinson]

A few reasons I practice

• Stress relief from work, inner peace
• Focusing on a single task to quiet my brain down
• Learn new things, currently working on learning fretless
• Learn new fun songs and techniques like slap or using three fingers

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

The comments about natural talent vs practise are interesting. Australian cricketers talk of 'making their own luck'. They're right, it works. The only time my practise really pays off is when I think about it. Anything less is like riding a bike downhill instead of uphill. None of us are born with it.

 

[Shepsdad]

I haven’t gigged in years, and have no plan or desire to, but I play bass, guitar, drums, mandolin, harmonica, every day for at least an hour or two, some days several hours.

I don’t consider what I do practice, I just think of it as playing. As to why? I guess because I can’t imagine a day going by that I couldn’t play.

 

[Gustopher]

Because I like to play. Lately (1.5months) I haven't been able to play much bass, guitar or keys because my wrist has been hurting like a demon. Went to the orthopedic physician and was told it was arthritis and got a steroid shot. It helps a little, but still unable to play for more than 5-10 minutes without severe discomfort and pain. No bueno.

 

[roccobass]

During Covid lockdown, I diverged from normal practice and went on Jamkazam.
Flawed as it was, (latency issues), it was good source of “practice”. When you had the right folks in the right areas, it worked fine. Not just the jamming part, but discussion too. Some really knowledgeable players were on it. You could also set up a room to solo practice. It was nice. It always sounded like I was recording.
I still use it frequently.