I thought about how to turn practice into a game. Gamblers can't stop playing and the question is how to translate this MUST into your exercises. Now I divide my homework into 20 minute portions. I turn over a sand timer and practice until the hour glass runs out (20 minutes) For each exercise session I put a card in a box. For example, I practice 10 cards scales. By accumulating the cards, practice has become a game and it's fun to have a lot of cards at the end. With the exercise units lasting 20 minutes each, it is always clearly defined what exactly is being practiced. Regards from Germany Uli
Your list blew me away. I love the way that you play, how generous you are in explaining things, how much you love the bass, and how much you want to improve others playing. Thanks so much! I've been playing since 1966, that's one year of experience 58 times. But for most of those years that was fine because I was having fun. Recently my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and I was told that I needed to do something for myself, so I've tried to step up my game. So my list includes thinks like"learn how to bow with the German how, learn major and minor chords, etc. Pretty embarrassing! Btw in high school I was second chair bass and married the first chair bass player! Thanks again for being there for us!!!
Such great advice! I can always use a reminder to let go of analyzing perfect practice and just hit the shed! "Getting off the information treadmill", as the folks at Open Studio put it. I've spent weeks obsessing over the perfect way to practice, all while getting very little work done in the shed. Upon reflection, I find that my efforts to be over-prescriptive have caused burnout. I like the idea of breaking things into larger categories with options like you mentioned at the ten-minute mark or so. It fosters a good balance between having goals and not overdoing it like I was for so long. Thanks for reading my rambly, unedited thoughts, lol.
Thanks for watching and for the comment. I have ABSOLUTLEY experienced exactly what you’re describing, so I’m very empathetic. It’s a constant struggle for me because I’m actually *procrastinating* by trying to make the “perfect” plan!
@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki Glad to hear I'm not alone! It's a super deadly form of procrastination, I feel, because I trick myself into thinking I'm actually getting something done. There were some weeks I spent more time in Google Docs creating a practice plan than I did playing my instrument!
Excellent guidance Matt as usual. I like how we flipped our list to reveal the items we should work on. We had a chat via email about practice routine and you really helped me bring focus to what I am working on. My broad goals were brought more into focus (specific exercises/tasks) and I'm starting to see benefits from that. Thank you!
This was really helpful - thank you! And positive. I'm learning orchestral bass, but also want to learn jazz and other styles. I get frustrated when I sound or play badly, and that can end my practice session. I think that's why we like to play stuff we can, and maybe not always a bad thing..?
Glad it was helpful and I totally hear you on the frustration. I agree if there’s time in your schedule to play stuff that makes you feel good that can certainly be a nice extra!
Heyyyyy, just put this video on because I love these videos, I don’t even play bass, then all of a sudden, boom I hear a bunch of advice that I needed to hear about how to practice! Thank you, sir!
This is a video I've got to share with all my friends who've gotten so busy with their career like me but really we've no excuse to give at least 30mins to practicing everyday.. Thank you so much for the motivation...
Fantastic advice on daily practice. I do have a passion for the bass but i lack guidance. Too much information could be mind blowing. As Ron said Find a Teacher period. Basically i am self taught and sometimes my journey seems very frustrating but my love for the bass and music just keep me going 🙏
Great Video Matt :) Yeah always a tonne of stuff to practice LOL :) I do honesty find it very daunting... I've always found getting up early and doing my practice session in the early morning helps me "Get It Out The Way" in a good way!... I'm very visual too and writing down a plan really does help... Cool video man :)
Really appreciate this video, incredible tips you are sharing with us. I will definitely apply this to everything I do with music. I gotta say, as a beginner, that sample practice routine you had on the screen at 10:00 was really eye opening. Helped me realize what I could be doing with scales too... and I might buy a whiteboard 🤣 I think a video on all the stuff you use scales to work on could be cool, all on the "technique" side of practice. I was curious when you mentioned the 4 hours a day minimum thing when you were in college, did that include "musicianship" stuff like ear training, transcribing, and all that? Or was it strictly time on the instrument? Thanks again for the video, I learned about your channel from listening to that double bass conversations episode you did.
Thanks for your comment and welcome! I’m glad the video was inspirational in some way, and all the stuff you mentioned I know that you’ll succeed at doing! Go for it you can do it! The practice hours - for me and those I know it was 4 hours min on instrument. Other stuff tended to be connected to assignments etc. Transcribing with instrument though was probably in that big chunk. I would make a distinction between that and say, ear training off of the instrument. If that makes sense
Thanks! Would you consider sharing that practice chart you have? I have been charting mine since switching teachers, and it is informative, but I think there are some ideas in your approach that I might try to steal if I get a better look. Still a long way from8 hours/day.
