Impressive Time Management
I get a lot of positive comments about what I'm doing here, focusing on practicing guitar to eventually become a professional musician. But I'm surprised at how often people are impressed with the amount of time I devote to it. Most of these people work 40-hour weeks but think that 8 hours of plunkin in a day is nuts. I don't understand what's so impressive. They follow orders all day long to earn a living while I sit around, unemployed, doing whatever I please. "Whatever I please" happens to have some direction in my case, that's all.
I've read about all the guitar greats putting in similar hours, but I'm more impressed with anyone who doesn't have that option, yet still steadily improves. I've got all day every day at my disposal; of course I'm gonna show improvement. I have trouble thinking of what I'd do with only an hour a day though.... I'd go fuckin insane, that's what I'd do. I can't imagine how to strictly budget so little time and show regular improvements. It takes me over an hour just to warm up.
What I find more impressive than anything I've done is the working stiff who needs employment to raise his/her family and who utilizes what few spare minutes they have to practice an instrument every day, improve, and fulfill that part of their life. That takes more dedication and sacrifice than I've ever known.
I feel extraordinarily privileged to have this option before me. I'm just trying to make the most of it.
Paul (28 Feb 2008 at 3:54pm)
Well put! I used to think that an hour practice a day was great. It is in the beginning, since you know NOTHING, so practicing one new song for an hour can yield real results in a few days or weeks, but then after a while, it's tough to just maintain a few songs, then your hour is up. I've only been playing a year, and already my 60-90 minutes a day I can play now is just barely enough time to warm up, run through a few songs and scales, then times up... kids have to go to bed... That's why it's fun to read and think about YOUR progress!! We improve vicariously through you :-) You'll understand when you have kids ;-)
For sure -- make the most of it now. When you're working, even as a musician, the freedom might not be there. Enjoy it, and keep working hard at it for as long as you can.