What is better practice-1 or 4 x 15 mins?

[panda234]

I have my computer right by my desk so can pick it up and be playing quickly and without much thought. Just wondering whether multiple 15 minute sessions, or even smaller, doing something like scales is better than the same amount of time but all at once.

[megadeth600606]

It is better to do smaller, more frequent practice sessions, but don't just rely on those. Sometimes its good to sit down for a few hours and review and pick up on some new stuff.

[panda234]

thanks megadeth. I wasn't going to give up the mega sessions but was just wondering about the utility of the smaller sessions. I find it takes me 5 minutes or so to get warmed up to the point where I'm really doing anything substantive so that's only 10 mins of practicing.

[megadeth600606]

I mean a lot of people sit down for hours and hours expecting to be virtuousos, but it just seems like they would get frustrated with the instrument.

[Jamerson]

you should always stop practicing a particular technique, song etc... once you can see/feel that you're progress has stopped.

For example if i was trying to learn a new lick, i would practice it until i felt i was no longer getting any better at it, usually this might be 10-20 mins or so then move onto something new. This way you allow your fingers and brain to make all the necessary adjustments so you can play it better the next day, while tryin to limit the amount of practice time wasted. I think its called something like post practice improvement where the part of the body you are training build all the extra nerves, muscles to allow you to perform the same thing better next time, most of this supposedly takes place when you sleep.

If you had for example 2 hours a day to practice, IMO you would be far better off splitting this up into 15-30 segments (i find 20 mins is the ideal time for myself) on different things, and this should help you stopped getting bored, and allow more post practice improvement to take place