Individually - How often do you practice ?

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Sunday Mar 06, 2011

Just thought I'd start a thread to see how much everyone works on their own instrument on an individual basis.

With Drums, I keep a drum pad on a stand in my living room (I have an understanding wife). I play on it nearly every day just to keep loose. Sometimes only 5 minutes, sometimes a half hour and sometimes longer. Most often multiple 5-10 minute segments.

On the kit, it seems to be a mood thing, a couple times a week, more if I need to learn songs.

Is your practicing for improvement, just to keep up chops, to learn something, or all of that ?

What's your regiment ?

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Sunday Mar 06, 2011

I try to do this everyday Bill...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlqWFfB2gjQ

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

What is this "practice" you speak of?

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I definitely practice everyday. Lately it's been multiple times a day. I've come to a point where i see the practice is paying off. Its definitely motivated me and kept me wanting more.

I work on my chops everyday. My goal is to be able to go into any jam type situation and be able to hold my own (rhythm and lead) wise.

I'm currently workin with Chris Kane - who has taught me pretty much everything i know about playing lead. And recently Rick Wertz has been showing me some different tricks and tips that have helped me a ton.

And for the record (not to sound cocky) but if you saw me play a year ago and then saw me play today, i'm sure you'd be surprised. I'm kinda proud of my progression.

And of course, i go out on the weekends and try and steal as much lead material from other players as i can

- kayla.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I try to do something music-related every day, but I'd practice my instruments more if I could. I always keep a guitar on a stand in the living room and TV room, because if I see it, I'll pick it up.
I practice mandolin every other week or so for 15 min., and dobro about once a week, other than actual band rehearsals. I play that stupid banjitar WAY too much, it's addictively fun playing Black Sabbath licks on a banjo-sounding instrument. I play lap steel maybe once a month, for 1/2 an hour.
Oddly, the instrument I get the most compliments for, harmonica... almost never practice. I literally have played it on one song for the last 2 years, but I've played that song a bunch of times (Down Home Girl by Old Crow or Stones/Delaney & Bonnie, depending on how old you are). My dogs have decided they like to sing the blues as I play them, and they step all over my solo's! I need to start keeping a harp in the car again, so I can play while commuting, because I can't play at home. I need to start hitting the local jams again, too, that's where I feel like I improve the most, that and Hurricanes sit-ins.

Dark Soul · Post by **Dark Soul** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Been practicing almost every day for 25 years. If I go more than a few days without playing, withdrawal sets in and I get all twitchy.

robinhood · Post by **robinhood** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

well, for about the past week(since i got it) I've been practicing mandolin for at least half an hour every day, I love to sit up at school in the student center and practice, even though people like to give me funny looks, but I think most people just think it's interesting that I'm playing a mandolin, as one doesn't see one everyday. I haven't really touched my bass lately, but that needs fixed

. I guesss I haven't touched it because I'm so focused on my "new toy" that I've almost forgotten about the old ones. My guitar rarely gets picked up, but that may or may not change, because I've had that thing for about 10 years now(even though I can only play 3 songs) and I rarely touch it. As a matter of fact, talking about it makes me wanna play some

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

up untill just a few months ago i played every single day. lately i've been having a hard time being inspired really due to other things but i want to get back to having some inspiration but it just doesn't work that easy. i really want to dig in to some old time delta style stuff and really hunker down and learn this style and incrporate in to our set but it really takes a focus that i just don't seem to have right now, so i just keep listening to different nuances that i like and try to remember that stuff for when i finally do have that focus to sit down with my guitar. practice to me is 80% listening, very intently, i actually don't like people talking or anything when i'm listening to music, and then try to tackle it in some way and the actual application of what i'm trying to copy or whatever comes easier if i'm really really familiar with that piece. right now i'm just trying to play as much as i can daily which only seems to amount to about a .5 hour if that, we've been just listening to songs at practice and trying to pull them off that way, which i really don't like to do, but we're all busy and it just the way its working for us now...it works.

Post by **Jim Price** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Ukulele - at least 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes at the breakfast table, entertaining my parakeets.

Guitar - I need to get back on the wagon and start practicing again; my schedule with various job and other work duties has kept me from maintaining a regular practice schedule on guitar, but I hope to devote more time to it again once college teaching duties wind down after April.

Percussion - I don't have a practice regimen for hand percussion per se, but get workouts during World Drumming Ensemble group practices Mondays at St. Francis, and Pellegrine's Wednesday Open Mic/Jam Nights. One of my goals this year is to purchase my own djembe once funds allow it; I expect to log more home practice time on it once that happens.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I practice every day. I don't really have a set time to do it, though. I pick up the guitar at any given time and just play for a little while, set it down, then do it over again.

rreihart · Post by **rreihart** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Practice!? You guys are talking about, practice? Really? Practice? We're sitting here talking about practice. Not a gig. Practice. Not a gig that I go out there and die for and play every gig like it's my last. Not a gig. We're talking about practice, man.

nakedtwister · Post by **nakedtwister** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

rreihart wrote:Practice!? You guys are talking about, practice? Really? Practice? We're sitting here talking about practice. Not a gig. Practice. Not a gig that I go out there and die for and play every gig like it's my last. Not a gig. We're talking about practice, man.

Now that's funny.

MeYatch · Post by **MeYatch** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

rreihart wrote:Practice!? You guys are talking about, practice? Really? Practice? We're sitting here talking about practice. Not a gig. Practice. Not a gig that I go out there and die for and play every gig like it's my last. Not a gig. We're talking about practice, man.

huh?

BTW, apparently we went to the same high school

VinceM25 · Post by **VinceM25** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Three to four times a week for about an hour each time. Sometimes up to 2 hours or more depending on whether or not I have any other obligations. When The Ultra-Magnetic was in its first couple months we practiced 4 nights a week for around 3 hours each night...crazy, but that's why we are super tight and can read each others mind. (I can tell you what Hunter James is thinking at this very moment)

I find that if I slack off on practicing I lose my quickness and instincts when soloing. If I'm on top of my game my soloing flows without me really thinking about it, but if I'm slacking I have to think too much and my playing sounds more urgent. Some people like that urgency I guess.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I try to pick up the bass at least 4-5 times a week for an hour each time,give or take

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

rreihart wrote:Practice!? You guys are talking about, practice? Really? Practice? We're sitting here talking about practice. Not a gig. Practice. Not a gig that I go out there and die for and play every gig like it's my last. Not a gig. We're talking about practice, man.

This is the NailDriver mantra when we rehearse, LOL! Russ, have you been sneaking in and watching us??

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Picked up a Roland kit for xmas and now I practice everyday. Its made it fun again, mostly been buckling down on rudiments and following Joe Morello vids. At least 2 hours a day and i can tell the difference in my hands already. I might be a real drummer someday.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Hurricane wrote:Picked up a Roland kit for xmas and now I practice everyday. Its made it fun again, mostly been buckling down on rudiments and following Joe Morello vids. At least 2 hours a day and i can tell the difference in my hands already. I might be a real drummer someday.

Cool. My dream is to be a real guitar player some day

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I fiddle around almost every day. I don't know if I'd call it practice.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I practice 2-3 hrs a day to suck at guitar this damn good....

KeithReynolds · Post by **KeithReynolds** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I never practice anymore. Which makes sense because I dont play anymore, haha.
Ive found out that I can still be a legend in my own mind without playing an instrument.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Hurricane wrote:Picked up a Roland kit for xmas and now I practice everyday. Its made it fun again, mostly been buckling down on rudiments and following Joe Morello vids. At least 2 hours a day and i can tell the difference in my hands already. I might be a real drummer someday.

Bobby, you are a drummer's drummer !

You told me you were going to gig the Roland. How did it go ?

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

Hawk wrote:
Hurricane wrote:Picked up a Roland kit for xmas and now I practice everyday. Its made it fun again, mostly been buckling down on rudiments and following Joe Morello vids. At least 2 hours a day and i can tell the difference in my hands already. I might be a real drummer someday.
Bobby, you are a drummer's drummer !

You told me you were going to gig the Roland. How did it go ?

Hah thanks Bill, i set up both kits just in case, need alot more juice than what i had to push them. They will stay at home. Live is a way different animal for me.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Monday Mar 07, 2011

I'm the same way Bobby, I've played Rolands out before. They just don't have what an acoustic kit has. They are a ton of fun in the house though.

Naga · Post by **Naga** » Tuesday Mar 08, 2011

With guitar,... What's practice again? Oh... That? Yeah... Once, twice a week?

Bass? I started playing it soon as I got it every night, missing once a week. Since the start of the weekend, I've had a lot going on though. New pet and cage assembly, working hard, out this night, that night, jamming with Skeez and staying out after,... I'll get back to my regiment of playing on a regular "bassis" shortly. Too damn exhausted tonight. That "work" thing is cutting into the more important things