Anyone else like to practice in a structured way?

[AndyG892]

I'm putting together a web app to help organise and structure guitar practice, but I'm a bit concerned that it just reflects the way I practice, so Id like some other opinions.

 

Does anyone else practice in a pretty structured way, like perhaps using a practice plan with a timer on individual bits? Or tracking progress on individual exercises, or even songs?

 

I also like saving links to videos and tutorials, and uploading scans of books pages so I dont need to fossick around looking for them when I want to practice.

 

The site is at www.cantat.io if anyone is interested enough to look.

[Larryz]

I use the computer to store stuff like songs, chords, lyrics, etc. along with recordings of my playing and singing in my own files. There are so many resources out there that I don't really need a site to structure my practice sessions. I can call up songs, lessons, backing tracks, chord charts and scale charts with demos, etc., on sites like youtube. I can call up 1,000's of song chords, lyrics and tabs on sites like chordie.com.

 

My general structure is based upon what I'm doing at the time. If I have a gig coming up, that's the material I practice and concentrate on. If not, I may concentrate on new material or go in another direction with theory for awhile...

 

When I first pick up the guitar, I play whatever comes out of the guitar...it may be a chord pattern or different scale modes. With my looper in line I'll record a chord pattern to a song and then play with the scales, and then develop my own lead. I like to be free and sometimes it's going electric, sometimes acoustic, sometimes more on the vocals and lyrics and the list goes on. The predominate thing for me is having fun while learning at the same time. I don't use an egg timer or research the practice method(s) that I'm using...

 

Everyone is so diversified and playing at different levels from beginner to pro, that it would be hard to fit them into one structural method of practicing. I think it's good to investigate all the different approaches out there if you want to develop a web app and the best place to start is with your own situation. Maybe another idea might be to get input from music teachers and develop an app around their needs when dealing with students...anyway, good luck with it!

 

 

[AndyG892]

Thanks Larryz, that's good feedback. I use all the great resources on the web as well, but perhaps because I'm still in the beginner / early intermediate (to be kind..) stages I find I often get so far with new songs etc and fail to finish learning them completely.

I wanted something that would also keep track of that stuff for me so I could keep going back and not forget about it. Books are also the same for me, I often have good progress until I get to the hard chapter (there's always a hard chapter..) and then my progress stalls.

Anyway, thanks again for the feedback.

[Larryz]

I have a buddy that just bought a lap top where the top flips off and disconnects from the keyboard. The top is like an iPad screen and he can mount it on a mic stand or just use a music stand. He has his hundred songs at the tip of his fingers and 100 more loaded in for the other half of his duo. He uses Windows8 and he can scan in book pages, hand written songs, etc. It's a dedicated computer for his music only...This way he doesn't have to lug around binders. He and his buddy can read from the screen and have a memory aid right in front of them...

 

I like learning a song and playing without the sheets. But, as I get older and more forgetful, I'm just about to go in the same direction. I've noticed a lot of stage acts use teleprompters. From the audience side it looks like two monitor speakers, but from the musician side one of them is a karaoke type of teleprompter...so, I could even use the iPad concept the same way...

 

I'm thinking of loading on the Band in the Box software and getting into writing songs...I think you're on the right track Andy, as the computer can be used to store, organize, copy, record and even play back your own stuff to help you remember things.

 

You might consider getting a teacher for a year or so. Some one that can help you devise a system for breaking down those songs and getting through those hard parts...

[RLHofer]

Well, I have two sets of songs I currently practice. One set is songs I can play/sing without the charts and are subject to be played at open mic sessions, and the other set is songs I'm still working on and need the charts still. Specifically regarding the first set, it can get boring playing the same songs in the same order session after session; so, I change up the order. I may play from top to bottom all the way through. Then I may play bottom to top all the way through. Then I may play the top two, then the bottom two, then the next two on top, then the next two from the bottom, etc, and eventually end in the middle of the list. So, having said all that, it boils down to the fact that I change up the order to alleviate the boredom.

[Eric VB]

These days I'm mostly learning 40+ song set lists for shows (3 hours of music). I start by making my own hand-written charts and arrangements (including vocals). (Just the act of writing things out by hand helps memory retention.) I probably spend most of my time just listening so I can commit the songs to memory. (Commuting 1.5 hours for my day job is a good time to listen and practice vocals.)

 

If I don't have a show coming up I'll canvas songs to see if there's anything I can sing lead on to add to my repertoire.

 

I was in the studio recently for a 15-song album. We recorded two jam rehearsals so I had something to work with. Drums have been recorded but some mikes were bad so they may need to re-track. In the meantime I'm tweaking my parts.

 

Maybe someday I'll get back to my own originals.

[AndyG892]

Cool, thanks for the responses.

Looks like lists and scans/links to things like songs and exercises and ways to organise them are things people might be interested in.

 

I also love the idea of being able to share some of your musical stuff with specific groups of people.

[Fred_C]

My practice session is pretty much the same every day, but I wouldn't call it "structured".

 

I start by practicing scales, arpeggios and chord phrases (lots of ii-V phrases). I follow with about 10-15 minutes of blues improvisation. The goal of both of these phases is to loosen up my hands in preparation of actually practicing.

 

I then practice chord melody solos that I have already learned, so I don't forget them.

 

Finally, I work on new music that I'm just learning.

 

Works for me.