Scheduling Practice Time

Scheduling Practice Time

Q: I bought a guitar very recently and am very much motivated to play it. I looked around for resources and books and found your books on amazon. First I bought 1st Steps for a Beginning Guitarist and then Music Theory Workbook Volume One following some of your advice and suggestions from co-readers on the site. Soon after that, I saw your FAQ suggestions and strong recommendation on the Ear Training, so I got it too…

Looking around those 3 materials, I realized there is plenty to learn (actually overwhelming!) and the stuff you speak about in the Music Theory Workbook Volume One and Ear Training One Note Complete isn’t going to be easy for a beginner like myself. I haven’t played any instrument before. I work around 10-12 hours a day and additionally I have my language lessons, workouts, etc, etc that keep my day/weekends quite exciting and busy. I actually enjoy being busy.

What kind of a schedule would you personally recommend for a person like myself? I am a bit confused because my concern is – I want to spend optimum time on the right book/CD so that my progress is stable and keeps going on and on… at the same time it shouldn’t demand any time more than I really have. Although I am learning it to play it just for myself, I have some objectives:

• 1. Know the instrument properly.
• 2. Hear any music (especially from my favorite rock stars) and play it.

Do you think I made a wrong decision by getting all 3 resources at the same time? Where should I exactly start? Should chords be part of my first lessons or is it the theory part?

A: You made the right decision to get all 3 books if you have the will power and concentration to fit them into what sounds like a very busy life. I think one of the key things here is do you have any spare time at work where you could listen to an ear training CD for 5 minutes maybe 3 to 5 times and/or do 10 minutes of music theory work. If you do, then I’d spend between 1/2 hour and 1 1/2 hours a day playing guitar and do some extra practicing on the weekends. The important thing is to be consistent. If you can only practice 1/2 an hour a day then be consistent and always practice that amount. This is one of the main keys to becoming a good musician.

Of course you have to also realize that only practicing a 1/2 hour a day it will take longer to progress than if you practice more. But this is your schedule now so work within it, and try to figure out a way in the future to devote more time to music when scheduling practice time.

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.