Practicing music is like practicing a sport. You have to put time in to get results! The reason you play a sport if for enjoyment. To excel in the game you have to practice different areas to advance.
Like the game of basketball learning the rules of the game is like learning theory, learning the proper way to dribble and shoot is comparable to technique, understanding different plays and strategies is like understanding different styles and idioms of music. Watching other players and seeing what they do is like listening and watching other musicians and growing from the observation. The more you put your understanding and practice of the game on the court the better you become. After learning all the rules, plays, strategies, techniques and being influenced it becomes immediate when you play the game. The more you know the less you have to think about the game you can surrender to the moment and create, move, act and react it becomes instinctual. If you are weak in certain areas of the game like technique sooner or later you'll have to shoot a free throw. If you forgot the plays because you don't mentally prepare you might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most players excel in certain areas, that area is the gift they have and the work comes in when having to work on the other parts that aren't so natural. Being a good technical player doesn't cut it if you can't memorize the plays in which to execute you technique properly. If you don't know the rules, you'll make mistakes continually and obtain penalties.
Types of Practice
1. Technical: this is the act of being proficient on moving your fingers over strings of an instrument. The more proficient you are at certain techniques the more freely you can express your ideas.
2. Mental: this is learning how to out it all together the notes, scales, theory and concepts. The more you know mentally and practice without your instrument the easier it becomes to act and react or know what to do when new situations arise.
3. Auditory: listen and learn, having a good ear is essential to excelling as a musician. From hearing intervals and chord changes to listening to music and transcribing. Listening enables you to express yourself and play in situations at its purest form because music is sound!
4. Creative Playing: putting it all together technical, mental and auditory. All the practice put to use in practical situations, from practicing site reading to improvisation to jamming for just for fun. Linking everything together to create music.
Motivation = Results
You'll want to practice if you enjoy it! So when you first pick up your instrument practice something you enjoy playing or hearing right away to help you create a positive approach and frame of mind. After the fun piece in the beginning make sure your practice routine covers all four types of practice, spending short efficient amounts of time in each area. When your mind starts to wander, move to another area of your practice routine. The more interested and motivated you are the better and faster the results will be. Most players excel in certain areas of playing, so rate which of the four types of practice you excel in. Then make note of the areas you need work in. Take the time to balance out your playing during each practice session. If you are technically advanced and technique comes easily to you, spend a little extra time on an area you are weak in, for example your auditory practice. Find a fun way to practice so that practice stays inspiring and enjoyable.
Vision + Action = Mission
Are your dreams becoming a reality? Or is your reality devoid of purpose and lacking motivation? Most people fit into one of two categories; they are either a vision person or an action person. Having a vision of how you want to sound, play and perform gives you a goal of what you want to attain musically. Having action creates forward motion musically. Putting action behind your vision helps you to put it all together and become the musician or person you want to be. That is your musical mission or purpose.
How many times have you seen people with tons of vision and no action? They have great ideas, are extremely creative, daydream about where they want to be musically, buy all the right equipment and then dont do much with it; they take no action. On the other side of the fence action with no vision is equally unproductive. Nothing gets done since there is no bigger purpose or idea creating the necessary motivation.
Find out where you sit. Which side of the fence are you on? Are you a vision or an action person? If you are a vision person don't stop with creating that solid vision, continue on and ask yourself Am I willing to put forth the action to make the vision happen? If you are an action person ask yourself What do I want to have happen by taking this action? Where do I want to end up? You'll find playing music to be much more fulfilling when you have a vision supported by the action to turn it into a mission. In this way your musical goals will become your musical reality.
