For about four days now, I haven't been able to play an instrument. Without going into details, I acquired an injury to my thumb while cooking that prevents me from doing any finger picking. As a banjo player, you can you where that might cause some trouble. But during this "time off," I have been scouring Youtube looking for songs, masterclasses & workshops (professional musicians talking about their craft and answering questions), and inspiring performances. It is important to rehearse the mind as well as the fingers, or no Music can be made. While doing this it has occurred to me that I have my own thoughts on practicing as well as some complaints about the way people think about practicing and musical ability. I thought I would share them in case anyone wanted to read what I have to say.
Practice.
When you practice, you should learn something. Yes, you should always start out by "warming up." Some people like scales, some etudes, some tunes...it doesn't really matter, in my opinion. Just get the fingers loose and the blood pumping and the brain working. But it should be something that you already know. REALLY know. As in you could play it in your sleep. Then the work can begin. Figure out what you want to learn (preferably before the practice session) and don't leave the practice room until you learn it. If it is a long piece, divide it into sections and work it out a piece at a time before moving on to the next section. But be prepared to spend more than an hour practicing. If you want to be a professional at any point, be prepared to spend between three and eight hours a day practicing. Sometimes more.
When I was in college as a music major, I was ALWAYS in the practice room. Before class, between classes, after class. Basically between 7:30 and 2:00, if I wasn't in class, the bathroom or working for a teacher, I was practicing. And all of the other music majors always made comments on my "commitment" or how they admired my ability to practice for long periods of time. Admittedly, I was well conditioned for long practices, but more on that later. I recently went back to that school and saw upon a new teachers door a flow chart printed on a piece of paper. The headline read "Should you be practicing?" with different lines leading to different situations as flow charts do. Not knowing this teacher (as she didn't know me), I knocked on the door, pointed to the sign and said, "It doesn't matter. The answer is always yes." In the restaurant business there is a saying: If you have time to lean, you have time to clean. Practice is much the same; if you have time to rest, you have time to practice.
Work.
I was not born a musician. My family played music at an amateur level and a few members were active in the arts communities of their respective towns. But I wasn't singing harmony at age three, I couldn't tell you what instrument was playing what, and I didn't learn anything (physically, that is) from anyone I was surrounded by. I started playing violin in the school orchestra in the 6th grade. That was my introduction to music and not practicing. I tried to take up the mandolin and guitar that same year. But by the 8th grade, I have become interested in the banjo (a story unto itself). It consumed me. Every day after school, I would play until dinner time. Then I would play until bed time. Between the 8th grade and my senior year of high school, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that I regularly practiced seven hours a day. I chose not to go to school dances, sports events, or engage in a regular social calender. I still had friends, I just didn't see them outside of school. I learned a lot during this period of time, and it prepared me for the REAL learning that was ahead. You see, most of this "learning" was by myself. I had to figure things out on my own without a teacher. I was used to playing by myself most of the time. That caused some pains when I started playing with other folks.
The Talent Myth.
During my senior year of high school I started playing with some informal jam groups as well as some local bands. In both situations, I regularly heard the phrases "you're so talented" or "you've been blessed with such talent" or "God has given you such talent." All three of which pissed me off like you would not believe. Still do, actually. I worked my butt off to learn what I knew up to that point (and would work my butt off later and am STILL working my butt off to stay on top of things). It is not because I have been blessed with some supernatural ability that I am a competent musician. It is that I have applied myself in a useful manner for my particular instrument and worked many many hours to achieve what I want. I think a lot of students get caught up in a trap of hearing parents and family members dote on how good they and how talented that they are that when they get to college (when the REAL learning begins) and they have to perform at the top of their game and be ready to be crushed by people who can play ten times better than they are, they assume they can just float by on their "talent." Well, they can't. Talent must be achieved, it is not given.
If I have been unclear about anything, let me know. I will try to clarify with future posts.
Happy Picking.
