Thinking about practicing vs. actually practicing

[harmonics101]

To mitigate that problem, leave the guitar out on a stand, conditions permitting (i.e. kids, dogs, wives),

H

[CaineIsCarter]

The older I get, and the more guitars I acquire, the harder I work at it. I feel I need to justify the instruments, and that they need to be played to fulfil their raison d'etre.

Just this last month I've made more progress than I can remember, because I've needed a distraction from not drinking booze during Dry January. Weirdly, I have no desire to return at drinking at all, and a lot of motivation to continue practicing and learning new stuff.

[mr. beaumont]

Actually, there's a lot of practice you can do in your head...but it helps with different stuff...not the hands on stuff.

[opencee]

Originally Posted by CaineIsCarter

The older I get, and the more guitars I acquire, the harder I work at it. I feel I need to justify the instruments, and that they need to be played to fulfil their raison d'etre.

My father had a sailboat. He used to keep a log of every time he used it. At the end of the sailing season he would add up all of the boat expenses for the year, then divide by the number of hours sailing. This would give him a cost per hour.

It almost became a chore, going out in bad weather, or missing other events in his life, for the simple sake of sailing hours. He worked harder to keep the hourly cost down than he did enjoying his sailboat or maybe even life in general.

I can't live that way.


opencee

.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by opencee

If I thought about picking up a guitar to "practice", I would probably never pick it up. I always think of picking it up to "play". That sort of defines how I feel about my musical endeavors. Guitar/banjo/ukulele is a hobby for anti-work and anti-stress enjoyment. Playing is fun time, and I like to keep the fun in it. It keeps me coming back.

As a kid, I always hated sports practices, but I liked to play.

Certainly, when learning something new, I go over the material again and again until I get it down the best I can. Yes, that is "practice", by definition, but my neurotic brain prefers the word "play".

As a hobbyist/amateur, if it isn't fun, what's the point?

I do know a lot of pros who hate to practice, but that is "work" related.


opencee

.

This post sums it up perfectly for me. I couldn't have said it any better.

I have to add though that I have real trouble even playing in the winter months because of the cold, dry air. My guitars are all "asleep" in their well-humidified cases while the skin of my hands is dry and chapped. I wish Santa had brought me that humidifier but he didn't and money's too tight to splurge.

[Laughingboy68]

Originally Posted by opencee

If I thought about picking up a guitar to "practice", I would probably never pick it up. I always think of picking it up to "play". That sort of defines how I feel about my musical endeavors. Guitar/banjo/ukulele is a hobby for anti-work and anti-stress enjoyment. Playing is fun time, and I like to keep the fun in it. It keeps me coming back.

As a kid, I always hated sports practices, but I liked to play.

Certainly, when learning something new, I go over the material again and again until I get it down the best I can. Yes, that is "practice", by definition, but my neurotic brain prefers the word "play".

As a hobbyist/amateur, if it isn't fun, what's the point?

I do know a lot of pros who hate to practice, but that is "work" related.


opencee

.

This.

Couldn't agree more. I play when I perform, I play when I learn a new tune, I play when I write, I play when I perfect the song. What is this practice of which you speak? It sounds like work...

[Laughingboy68]

Originally Posted by kwakatak

This post sums it up perfectly for me. I couldn't have said it any better.

I have to add though that I have real trouble even playing in the winter months because of the cold, dry air. My guitars are all "asleep" in their well-humidified cases while the skin of my hands is dry and chapped. I wish Santa had brought me that humidifier but he didn't and money's too tight to splurge.

Guitars aren't meant to hibernate. Get 'em out to play. Please, for the sake of all involved.

[Jambi]

The only thing between thinking about practice and actual practice is job/family obligations. My guitar is like a can of Pringles, once I pop I can't stop.

UPDATE: The Pringles comment is making me rethink browsing the 'advertisement' thread...

[pgilmor]

I wish I could find the provenance for this, but I can't. Years ago, there was a study that had one group of people practice free throws and another group that only visualized shooting free throws but didn't touch a basketball. And of course, a third group that neither practiced nor visualized.

The group that only visualized improved as much or more than the group that practiced, while of course the control group didn't improve and, in cases, got worse.

Thinking about your playing may actually be helpful.

[CaineIsCarter]

Originally Posted by opencee

My father had a sailboat. He used to keep a log of every time he used it. At the end of the sailing season he would add up all of the boat expenses for the year, then divide by the number of hours sailing. This would give him a cost per hour.

It almost became a chore, going out in bad weather, or missing other events in his life, for the simple sake of sailing hours. He worked harder to keep the hourly cost down than he did enjoying his sailboat or maybe even life in general.

I can't live that way.


opencee

.

I think the story you tell here bears little relationship to what I described.

[opencee]

Originally Posted by CaineIsCarter

I think the story you tell here bears little relationship to what I described.

That may be.

No offense intended.

Something about your post reminded me of my father. That's MY problem, not yours.

Peace!



opencee

.

[CaineIsCarter]

Originally Posted by opencee

That may be.

No offense intended.

Something about your post reminded me of my father. That's MY problem, not yours.

Peace!



opencee

.

Hey, absolutely no offence intended from me either, and if I reminded you of your dad in some way, I like that.

Peace to you too man.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Porchpkr

Anyone else got this problem?

This is exactly what forums are for. Steven Pressfield calls it "avoidance" when we do everything except "our art".

Tony

[muscmp]

no problem thinking about practicing otherwise if you don't, you'll end up noodling. so, think about what you need to work on, then do it.

play music!

[DenverSteve]

Do or do not. Do not think.