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