Finding time to woodshed?

[Carvinite]

I know this section of the forum is supposed to be reserved for technique talk. but I feel finding practice time is just as important as actual practice..because without time, you don't get to practice....

When I was sixteen I could play 5 to 9 hours a day....EVERYDAY! I saw major improvments....but now I don't see any, because sometimes i BARELY get to play, I average maybe 10 hours a WEEK! Because of all the changes i've made in my life lately.

Im a full time student...
I have a full time girlfriend...

And sometimes it just seems like I don't have the time to play anymore...
I mean I want to so badly...it's such a part of me and I love it so much...I still want to start a band...I still want to gig, I just can't see it happening, because my playing is suffereing, if I can't even practice, how can I gig....

So I was wondering, how do you guys find the time to woodshed?

Later dudes,

Ryan

[jemstar555]

I'm finding it difficul to remember the last time I actually picked up my guitar, my wife gave birth to our fifth (yes, fifth) cild last week.

I am currently trying to work out a simple routine that I can try to fit in every day so that I can keep on top of things until the chaos dies down a bit.

[Joe Pass Jr]

learn to sleep less.

I'm a full time student, actually studying music. But with all the study and practice involved just for course related things. I have little time to work on the music I enjoy most. The course is entirely jazz focused but I really love classical music. So I have had to basically cut my sleeping hours down to about 5hrs a nite. Its tough, and has taken a while to get used to. At points I wanted to just give up the course. But my body is getting used to less sleep now so it paid off.

You might also consider putting your missus on a longer leash. Im not saying to shun her for your music. But If you really are passionate about putting more time into it. Maybe tell her you need more time to yourself for this reason.

I have a friend in the course in the same boat. He gets home and has basically no time to practice because his missus wants him all to herself and he is too scared to just tell her to nick off for a few hours.

My ex didnt understand how or why " spend more time with a lump of wood than her " Notice i said 'ex' :) The current GF is a vocalist and can jam with me :D :D

My advice. Sleep less & teach your missus to play an instrument.

[Spino]

Just isolate yourself from all the interference , disappear for a couple of hours ,it's your time .You have to manage it and people should respect that it's important to you . Don't blame being a student ,or the g-friend .There's 24 hours in a day. You have to control it or you lose .G'luck

[forgottenking2]

Sleeping less is not necesarily healthy. The sleep you missed will eventually catch up to you. Being chronically sleep deprived is like being chronically dehydrated (which by the way something like 70% of Americans are). You think you have learned to live drinking less until your kidneys start giving up. The same can be said about sleep. I don't mean be lazy and sleep 10 hours a day but don't go below 7. Most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep. Every once in a while skipping a little and sleeping only 4 or 5 hours won't do much damage but making it a habit takes a toll. I must know, I once had a collapse and had to be on anti-seizure medication because of sleep deprivation. It wasn't fun.

[KenParkerRules]

I get up at 5:30 to practice for an hour before I have to make my lunch and eat breakfast before leaving to go work on cars for the day. This way I practice with hands that aren't stiff and swollen and I make sure I get in at least on session per day. If I have a mellow day and I have energy left I can practice again in the evening. Two sessions of 30mins is better than an hour straight. If you can get in two one hour sessions it's probably more equal to 3-4 hours if you did in one lump.

[forgottenking2]

I do the gettting up early to practice too. It works better for me since I can put in about 1-1/2 to 2 hours and it usually leaves the night free to do whatever the lady wants. If I am lucky I can put in an extra session at night as well.

[ChrisJ]

I might sound overbearing but if you can't find two hours a day to practice, it probably means that you don't find practicing very important. Besides having a three year old daughter, teaching at four different colleges, a career as a musician, I still manage 90 minutes or two hours just about everyday. It is a matter of priorities really.

Now if you were to say that you like to only practice for an hour a week, I would tell you that that is fine as long as you are happy and your goals as a musician are to achieve mediocrity. But if you feel you should and want to practice for two hours everyday, just do it.

I mean, let's say you go to school for five hours everyday, work for eight, sleep for seven, that is twenty hours. You still have two for your girly and another two to practice. And that considers that you work and go to school seven days a week which is obviously not the fact. You have two days off. And you didn't mention if you work, I have added it into the equation anyways.

Promise to spend one of your off days with your GF so she'll leave you alone for your daily practice sessions. I'll say it again, it is all about priorities.

-CJ

[DuB]

Chris is exactly right. I am constantly amazed at people who "don't have enough time" for (insert activity), but who can somehow make time to watch TV for an hour after work/class. :rolleyes:

[LaughingSkull]

I wake up at 5:30, at 6:30 I am at lab working till 15:00, go home, collect kids make lunch, we are finished at 17:00, then it's time to be with kids (take them to afternoon activities, play with them, help them focus on school work ...) or there is a work on the house... etc. At 8:00 kids are supposed to be in their rooms. So from 8:00 to 9:00 +- 15 min I have my time to practice. That hours is holy and utouchable. at 9:00 then it's time to entertain Mrs. Skull. At 23:00 it's tiem to go to sleep.
At weekend there might be more family time, and additional time for half an hour of extra practice ...
There will be no LaughingSkull touring the world in next five years (i suppose :rolleyes: ), my goal was never that. But I achived my goal (which was coherent improvisation over any given chord sequence) in first two years.
So as others have said, you have time, what you don't have is excuse.

[Carvinite]

I had a long reply written.....but I decided it unwise to post....

anyway, thanks for some of the replies. and others....okay...well, I wasn't making an excuse because I haven't been praticing, I don't feel I need to, I was just wondering how you guys tend to schedule your days so that you have that extra time you need....but your right, im just lazy and I hate playing my guitar....

Later guys.

[Crossroads]

Hi Ryan - yeah I thought the guys were a bit tough too. So, I think you were very wise to scrap that “long” reply lol! :)

As it happens, I do practice many hours a day, but I’m lucky to have the free time (& still it‘s not enough! :eek: ). But I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have the same energy for that if I was commuting back & forth a 100 miles a day for work & trying to forge a career, bringing home masses of paperwork every night, & loads more paperwork all weekend etc…in fact I used to do that, and frankly I didn’t have much energy left for anything.

My only suggestion is, if you’re at college all week, then maybe you could set aside strict time at the weekends, playing/practicing during the day on Sat. & Sun?

Ian.

[Santuzzo]

Hey Ryan !

I know it is really difficult to find the time for practicing in some situations.
I guess you situation is kinda new, maybe you just started college and now you have was less time free at your disposal compared to when you were not at college or did not have a gf, etc.

But you will get used to this new situation and eventually you will find a way how to manage your time in such a way that you will still be able to practice everyday.

Maybe you could try to wake up one hour early everyday to put in an hour of practicing before college. And maybe you can do another hour at night.
Maybe making a little day-schadule might work for you: try to plan in 30 min of practicing here, another 45 min there, etc.

It might be hard at first, but you will gwet used to your new "life" being full time college student with little time.

When I started working after school, I had that same situation, work, g/f, and not too much time left for practicing. But nowadays I still get 2-3 hours (sometimes maybe even 4) of practicing done almost every day.
It's a struggle at times, and it takes some discipline, but it is doable !

Good luck !!!

[chrismatson]

GUITAR > GIRLFRIEND.

Sure, you'll be extremely lonely and have no contact with the outside world, but atleast you'll have nice chops. :( :D

[LaughingSkull]

don't listen to him. you need chops with girls too. :D :D :D

[AndyPollow]

aids is the reason i choose guitar instead of girlfriend/wife but not everyone can be happy that way i know. i had to go thru every tiny thing i do over a whole day and write it down and cross some of it out ( i sold the nintendo... ) and organize it and i was glad i did cuz i made an awsome routine. i deliver phone books 6 days per week but i do alot of fun things before and after work so it isnt hard.

[Stengah]

I'm a full time student, but still i can play 8-12h a day. Mainly because i study in school -> do other stuff in my flat. And i don't have a girlfriend, because they deserve lot more time then i can/want to give them.

Life is a matter of choices.

[forgottenking2]

Yeh. I chose to be married and I can say I have been rewarded nicely ;)

[elmariachi]

Yeh. I chose to be married and I can say I have been rewarded nicely ;)

lol i agree!

You have to keep a balance. I'm a full time music student and have been for the last three years. The whole practicing thing takes a long time before you achieve a balance thats right for you. I think im only finding out whats important now. Practicing obscene amounts of hours gets old very quickly. I've had to do it and although i improved greatly, in the long run you will suffer in just about everything else. I think the most important thing is to be consistent and really know where you're going with your practice. Goals like"im gonna be a virtuoso and practice until that happens" are too vague and unrewarding. Its the little gains that keep you going. And if you are constantly aiming for these practice is a hell of alot more satisfying.

Oh and to the original question:

I divide my instrument practice as follows: (when im in college)

(Daily)
2 hours Classical
2 hours Electric

I usually get in to college early and do my classical before my classes start and my electric in the evening. I guess im pretty luck to have the opportunity to be able to do that. I've been working 9-5 all summer to pay for a studio and its being nowhere near as easy to get the hours in. Cant wait to get back....