Don’t miss out: Time-Sensitive Opportunity

If I Could Go Back & Redesign My Practice

If I could Start Over This is what I would Practice

This is what I’d do if I had to go back and design my practice routine for the first time when I shifted from practicing classical music to improvising and playing other styles.

Cut out classical scales/etudes and instead, replace them with 15-30 mins of improvised scale practice.

Do 15-30 minutes of free/structured mindful improvisation over “elemental musical forms” (instead of trying to play over songs, progressions, or grooves I wasn’t ready for)

Devote 15-30 minutes to internalizing a small amount of harmonic or rhythmic material.

Watch the video or listen to the audio podcast below

Listen Here:

When we begin our practice with traditional scales/etudes (or playing memorized melodies and repertoire), it zaps our energy to practice broader musicality, such as through improvisation, harmony, or learning songs in more functional ways.

No wonder I felt stuck for a long time when I was practicing the traditional way.

Incorporating improvisation, harmony, rhythm, and arranging exercises will more than cover your technique if you are intentional about it.

It will accelerate your growth for at least these two reasons:

1. Accomplish more in less time by integrating

2. Develop in difficult areas rather than repeating things you’re already good at.

If you’d like to experience more positive, productive practice, you can practice with me live on Zoom.

Use it as a “forcing function” to practice.

Block time on your calendar, show up, and get all your practice in.

Over our live classes (or recorded if you can’t make it live) I’ll take you through my entire method to help you become a more functional musician,

so you can improvise, accompany, arrange, in practically any band, situation, and style…

or make music with loop pedals, split screen videos, join a worship band, folk jam, teach your students stuff they want, shred over rock grooves, etc.

These classes can help you enjoy practicing.

They will also help you practice more efficiently, so you spend less time and get more benefits.

The classes used to happen over intensive semesters, but now I offer them ongoing throughout the year in my coaching and practice community Creative Strings Academy.

learn more and join here.

*******