| What is the ultimate truth about guitar | | | | much or too effectively?It depends on how we |
| practicing?Is there a best way to practice on your | | | | define effective practice sessions. If effective |
| guitar? Of course you have to make your | | | | guitar practice is to work through a long list of |
| practice sessions effective but could there be a | | | | things to improve in your playing and to practice |
| way to practice that is more effective than other | | | | ten hours a day without interruption I guess you |
| ways? There are many principles involved in an | | | | can practice too effectively. This will mean that |
| effective practice session and I think some of | | | | you practice in such a way that you will get fed |
| these are a motivation founded on a love and | | | | up with guitar playing and maybe you will even |
| passion for the music you can produce on the | | | | hurt your muscles and develop an aversion |
| guitar, an acceptance of the fact that you must | | | | towards guitar playing for the rest of your |
| practice on that technical level you have reached, | | | | life.What is real effectiveness when you practice |
| a working knowledge of muscle tensions and how | | | | on your guitar?Real effectiveness is better |
| to minimize them when you play and how to | | | | measured by how well your practicing methods |
| work on reducing them when you don't play.What | | | | and results are pointing towards you goals. |
| shall we do until we find the most effective way | | | | Without goals you cannot measure effectiveness. |
| to practice?When I was studying music at an | | | | If your goal is to have fun with your guitar then |
| academic level I many times had the question | | | | you have a very effective practicing session if |
| messing around in my mind about the ultimate | | | | you have fun with your guitar. If that is what you |
| method for practicing on my guitar and other | | | | want then it is a worthy goal. I guess you could |
| instruments I played. A well renowned jazz tenor | | | | come upp with more specific goals than that with |
| saxophonist who was my teacher in jazz | | | | deadlines so you can measure them better. But it |
| improvisation discussed this issue with me as I | | | | is you who have to decide your own goals |
| asked him about it and he gave me the most | | | | otherwise the goals will not be effective.I hope |
| intelligent answer I ever heard before or after. He | | | | these words on practicing guitar playing will give |
| said with a smile, "until you find out the best way | | | | you some comfort and also help you realize that |
| to practice, practice anyway!"How effective can a | | | | when human beings like you and me are involved |
| practice session be?My humble opinion after much | | | | we cannot definitely say how we ought to play to |
| practicing and playing guitar and piano and other | | | | be effective. Human beings are funny things that |
| instruments and also teaching piano and guitar is | | | | sometimes behave like as if they were identical |
| that you have to take many things into | | | | but nevertheless they are unique. This also applies |
| consideration like the time available, your | | | | to guitar players like you and me. We are |
| motivation level, how concentrated you can | | | | different in many ways but I guess we want our |
| expect yourself to be and more. As real growth | | | | guitar playing to contribute to our happiness and |
| often is a slow process you will not very often be | | | | joy so have fun and ... "until you find out the best |
| able to measure the effectiveness of a practice | | | | way to practice, practice anyway!"!Peter |
| session by how much you have learnt so you | | | | Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music |
| have to find other ways to find out if you are | | | | educator. He is the proud owner of Capotasto |
| effective. The roads to Anywhere are many so | | | | Music with free sheet music, tablature and learn |
| to find out if you are on the right road you have | | | | to play resources for musicians and music |
| to decide your destination.Can you practice too | | | | students. |