If you play more than one instrument - especially if you play them in different musical styles - how do you divide your practice/playing time between them?
I play classical guitar - have done for a long time- and ITM on octave mandolin (or octave mandola, as you prefer) - not very well yet as I'm a beginner - and I find it difficult to divide my time sensibly between them. The way it works is that one or other gets most my attention for a week or two and then I swap. I find it hard to put one down to pick up the other - I just want to keep playing the instrument I'm holding, and I get obsessive about overcoming learning challenges. But then I feel guilty about ignoring the other one.
There's also the little matter of not being able to simply double the amount of time that I would normally spend playing just one instrument. That time was already stretched to its domestically acceptable limit. So the time has to be shared out - do other people manage it more evenly? Should I seek counselling?
Since it sounds as if you are beyond help (like most musicians), I wouldn't recommend counseling.
Seriously, though, if your situation is similar to mine where you have different types of jam sessions each week on different weeks, you might be able to concentrate on practicing a different instrument each week.
I don't know if my advice will help you but I certainly hope that it does help.
I play harmonica badly, and am even worse at anglo concertina, whistle, ukulele and mandolin. The only one I am willing to attempt playing at a session is harmonica, but at home I just pick up whichever is nearest or catches my fancy at the time. Not at all organised, but what I am really trying to do is understand the music and coming at it from lots of different angles seems to be helping greatly -- even if my technical skills are developing only very slowly.
Interesting question (and Kess, what do you do on Sundays?) as I think it's great to have a few instruments. I tend to practice whichever one I'm going to be going out playing - I have a rough gigging harp (amplified) and an acoustic one for sessions, so whichever one I'm doing next gets the most use.
What I have found in my life is that playing different instruments is alot like learning other languages. Your first instrument will always be your "native tongue". With your first instrument, you are also learning general musicianship for the first time, just like you are learning grammer and how to read and write for the first time in your native language.
The second instrument you learn, you already know how to read music (yea, right, I know, but try not to jump into the flow here...) and you know what a chord or scale is. What you need to know is how to work the instrument.
So where all this is going is that your general musicianship improves the more instruments you play. So practicing one instrument will actually benefit the other ones you play as well.
so what I tend to do is practice one instrument at a time and think of things in the long term. For example, I have practiced nothing but fiddle since the middle of May, but I have to play with my jazz group tommorrow night. I'm not worried about it since I know I haven't forgotten how to play guitar, and I'm confident the fiddle playing has kept my hands strong and my ears sharp,
practicing the one instrument benefits the other
so play the instrument you feel like that day, and know you will play the other one again. What you don't want to do is make yourself feel that the two are exclusive of each other or that playing one is taking away from the other, It just isn't true.
Nate Ryan, I think your useful and sensible advice concerning playing different instruments could also be applied to learning other languages besides your so-called "native" language which you learned from your parents when you were a child. For example, in my case, learning French has helped improve my speaking and writing skills in my native language which is supposed to be the American dialect of English.
Pediho, I am classical flutist and am also learning Irish flute. I have found the only way to keep myself on the straight and narrow, so that I do the work I need to do, is to assign an appropriate number of minutes/hours to each instrument and set a timer. When the timer goes off I stop and go on to the next instrument. It's worked really well. The key is to really stop when the timer goes off. I've found it's helped me get my classical practicing done much more efficiently. And there's no guilt that anything's been shortchanged.
Might sound kind of pedantic, but it's worked for me.
absolutely, fauxcelt. I had the similar experience learning some Italian after having French in school. The two languages have such similarities in grammar and construction I actually got out some old French language books to help my Italian!
and Terriers...
"Might sound kind of pedantic, but it's worked for me"
pedantic wasn't the word that came to my mind, but good on you anyhow! You are more disciplined than I am. If my kitchen timer went off while I was fiddling it would get chucked into the lake
I've done what Nate does, and also what you do, Terriers. At the moment, I'm working by playing fiddle for a bit and then watching CSI, doing my ironing during the programme and playing my whistle in the ads. Works a treat. Only thing is, my SO complains when I try and play the theme tunes on my whistle, half-holing every note. Can't think why she complains ...
I thought I was the only one with an issue since I have a 'day' job and the music is my real work. Unfortunatley the day job takes a great deal of my time. Mortgage man and the Lifestyle Herself has becomed accustomed to are in play here.
Since I moonlight as a church musician also, I have let my piano/organ work rely on those synapses developed 45 years ago in favor of working as much as possible on getting up to speed on my button box. (don't let those self-help websites that say age doesn't affect memory kid you....it is hard learning a new instrument later in life even as an experienced musician)
Technique has slipped (I notice, but the folks in the pews don't seem to, and I have had to do a 6PM saturday cut off on any fruit of the vine so I can deal with an 8AM sunday mass) I am trying to figure out how to squeeze it in.
I start at 5AM, but anything less than 2 hours per day on the box, and I am back to where I was a year ago pretty quickly.
And to boot, I have to learn enough Spanish to survive in the Bronx for my company.
Aprendir Espanol mientras yo mantenia los calendario de la ensayo esta dificil. That sounds even funnier if you were to hear me try and say it!
I just don't sleep as much, and Herself complains that I don't pay much attention to her. I sort of fixed that by letting her get a St. Bernard. Damn dog now gets more attention than I do!
Zippydw, you aren't the only person on this web site who has trouble finding time to practice because you have a day job. Whenever I am asked to do overtime, I frequently say yes because we need the money but that means I have less time to practice. If you think you speak Spanish badly, then you most definitely don't want to listen to me try to speak Spanish or French.
Even though it seemed unnecessary, difficult, and a real pain in the *****, now I glad that I went to a school that required me to take a foreign language.
I used to ride a bicycle when I was younger but I had to quit because it is too difficult to carry a piano or a bass fiddle on a bicycle.
The language idea is a good one. I'm on three intruments at the moment: Classical Guitar, Pennywhistle and Willowflute.
The Willowflute is getting most attention. The flute and whistle I practice in the park at lunchtimes...when it isn't raining. No practice today...
Guitar I'm allowed to practice at home. I get about an hour in the evening twice a week. It's a struggle, but I do get new tunes on each instrument, and improve my playing on the tunes I know.
The harmonica languishes, and the dulcimer ...just hangs on the wall.
I'm kind of in the same boat. I've been a violin/fiddle player for most of my life, but now I'm also trying to learn whistle and concertina. It's hard for me to put the fiddle down because I'm so comfortable with it and it's so much more fun to play an instrument that you know well enough to not have to think about what you're doing.
So I have to kind of force myself to put the fiddle down and work on concertina and whistle. I'm having an easier time with the whistle because I can carry it around with me and toot on it here and there.
I'll say this though, I'm glad that I started learning new instruments. At first I thought my fiddling would suffer, but it's given me a broader perspective of the music and I think it will help my fiddling in the long run.
Pick one you want to focus on and play that more. There is no point in trying to be really good on multiple instruments you will just end up wearing yourself out. I play Flute and Mandolin/Bouzouki on average I will spend (atleast) 45mins to an hour on Flute and about 15-30mins on Mandolin this is a good option. You will get really good on one instrument and you will progress on the other. Of course the real key is if you want to get good on either you need to practice everyday its a simple as that.
I tend to put a disproportionate amount of time into the instrument I'm not as good at. I guess it's because the better you get at an instrument, the more slowly you improve at it per hour of practice, so it's kind of a better use of my practice time to spend more time on the worse instrument.
On Sunday, I suspect Kess rests from his labours............
The more instruments you play, the more your whole understanding of the music should deepen, well, theoretically at least.
As well as all aspects of ITM, STM, ETM, & ATM, I also sing in a Sacred Harp group, which used to sing just the ones we knew already, and never did the shapes. However, under the missionary influence of those of us who have been attending larger meetings of singers we now try to sing the shapes ( the parts written in a form of sol-fa ) before the hymns, and to try new ones. At the most recent meeting we all tried singing each part in turn, down to the bass part, written in bass clef, and although I don't understand the bass clef, except theoretically, I could sing it ( in a crowd, anyway ).
I'm actually still learning new things, even at the ripe old age of 6ty whatsit.........
Pete - This weekend, herself and I are headed to Cullman, Alabama, for a family reunion. Cullman is one of the spots where Sacred Harp was kept alive before the modern revival and there's a big singing coinciding with the reunion. Unfortunately, we'll be committed to familial duties.
The only time I play whistle is in the kitchen while I'm waiting for something
to cook. It's permanently on the sink or cutting board.
It's amazing how many tunes I can play on it now. They're all in my head
from playing fiddle, where I learn lots of stuff from the evil "dots". The
whistle is effortless compared to the fiddle.
I also play several instruments, so I generally try to get a little time on each of them every week. Sometimes, like right now, I'll just take a week and not play the pipes at all, and that week I'll just play tenor banjo, maybe the next week, I'll only play concertina, etc.
What I find is universally, when I go back to the instrument I've taken a break from, I'm playing it better and with more ease.
Brains are funny things, well, at least mine is wired oddly, it doesn't necessarily only improve with continuous hard use...
I find I practice more on the fiddle than on the banjo or guitar. No doubt because I'm taking lessons on that instrument. Also it's because I find that as I improve I want to play it more and more. But it's important to pick the others up occasionally so as to avoid going backwards at least. I try to make that once or twice a week. I keep thinking they'll get their proper turn in the future when I have more time. Though just how that's going to happen, I'm not sure. I agree about the inconvenience of having a day job. If only I didn't need to sleep...
I divide my time between instruments systematically.
I walk to my music room, and I turn off the lights.
I then enter, and the first instrument case I trip over, I practice that.
Once I become sufficiently frustrated and annoyed with my inablility to play ANYTHING (even to bleeping HUM) half as well as Matt Molloy, I look for the next instrument to practice upon, hoping I will sound better on that.
It inevitably doesn't, so on to the next, and so on , and so on...
No matter what instrument you play or don't play, you are still enhancing your knowledge and experiance in music. I just play whichever I feel like and the brainwork required for a whistle can improve your fiddle.
Problem with that is playing the one that makes the most means I have to Godawful Contemporary American Church c**P for the General Motors of Church Music in Chicago-(lots of maj7's, flatted ninths with suspended 2nd's, 13's and 42'nds in unplayable keys in vocal ranges not meant for most human beings-but loved by some ex-seminarian GIA editor in Bedford Park) and learn alot of lliturgical lounge lizard music from the likes of Amy Grant in order to do weddings.
Sorry. I will spend my time on something useful like trying to learn 'Take me out to the Ball Game' on the Box in three keys with ornament, bass and harmonization.........
Truly more aesthetically pleasing than what I have to play on Sunday mornings!
Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Two instruments - dividing your practice time
If you play more than one instrument - especially if you play them in different musical styles - how do you divide your practice/playing time between them?
I play classical guitar - have done for a long time- and ITM on octave mandolin (or octave mandola, as you prefer) - not very well yet as I'm a beginner - and I find it difficult to divide my time sensibly between them. The way it works is that one or other gets most my attention for a week or two and then I swap. I find it hard to put one down to pick up the other - I just want to keep playing the instrument I'm holding, and I get obsessive about overcoming learning challenges. But then I feel guilty about ignoring the other one.
There's also the little matter of not being able to simply double the amount of time that I would normally spend playing just one instrument. That time was already stretched to its domestically acceptable limit. So the time has to be shared out - do other people manage it more evenly? Should I seek counselling?
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Lissagriffin
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Since it sounds as if you are beyond help (like most musicians), I wouldn't recommend counseling.
Seriously, though, if your situation is similar to mine where you have different types of jam sessions each week on different weeks, you might be able to concentrate on practicing a different instrument each week.
I don't know if my advice will help you but I certainly hope that it does help.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I play/practice irish fiddle monday's, wednesday's and fridays' and practice classical violin tuesday's, thursdays, and saturdays.
Thats the plan anyway!
Good luck.
K
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Kess
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I play harmonica badly, and am even worse at anglo concertina, whistle, ukulele and mandolin. The only one I am willing to attempt playing at a session is harmonica, but at home I just pick up whichever is nearest or catches my fancy at the time. Not at all organised, but what I am really trying to do is understand the music and coming at it from lots of different angles seems to be helping greatly -- even if my technical skills are developing only very slowly.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by robharper
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Interesting question (and Kess, what do you do on Sundays?) as I think it's great to have a few instruments. I tend to practice whichever one I'm going to be going out playing - I have a rough gigging harp (amplified) and an acoustic one for sessions, so whichever one I'm doing next gets the most use.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
' I get obsessive about overcoming learning challenges '. Don't. Not practising is an important part of the learning process , just like sleeping.
So: what Kess says.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
What I have found in my life is that playing different instruments is alot like learning other languages. Your first instrument will always be your "native tongue". With your first instrument, you are also learning general musicianship for the first time, just like you are learning grammer and how to read and write for the first time in your native language.
The second instrument you learn, you already know how to read music (yea, right, I know, but try not to jump into the flow here...) and you know what a chord or scale is. What you need to know is how to work the instrument.
So where all this is going is that your general musicianship improves the more instruments you play. So practicing one instrument will actually benefit the other ones you play as well.
so what I tend to do is practice one instrument at a time and think of things in the long term. For example, I have practiced nothing but fiddle since the middle of May, but I have to play with my jazz group tommorrow night. I'm not worried about it since I know I haven't forgotten how to play guitar, and I'm confident the fiddle playing has kept my hands strong and my ears sharp,
practicing the one instrument benefits the other
so play the instrument you feel like that day, and know you will play the other one again. What you don't want to do is make yourself feel that the two are exclusive of each other or that playing one is taking away from the other, It just isn't true.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Nate Ryan
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Nate Ryan, I think your useful and sensible advice concerning playing different instruments could also be applied to learning other languages besides your so-called "native" language which you learned from your parents when you were a child. For example, in my case, learning French has helped improve my speaking and writing skills in my native language which is supposed to be the American dialect of English.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Pediho, I am classical flutist and am also learning Irish flute. I have found the only way to keep myself on the straight and narrow, so that I do the work I need to do, is to assign an appropriate number of minutes/hours to each instrument and set a timer. When the timer goes off I stop and go on to the next instrument. It's worked really well. The key is to really stop when the timer goes off. I've found it's helped me get my classical practicing done much more efficiently. And there's no guilt that anything's been shortchanged.
Might sound kind of pedantic, but it's worked for me.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Terriers
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
absolutely, fauxcelt. I had the similar experience learning some Italian after having French in school. The two languages have such similarities in grammar and construction I actually got out some old French language books to help my Italian!
and Terriers...
"Might sound kind of pedantic, but it's worked for me"
pedantic wasn't the word that came to my mind, but good on you anyhow! You are more disciplined than I am. If my kitchen timer went off while I was fiddling it would get chucked into the lake
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Nate Ryan
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I've done what Nate does, and also what you do, Terriers. At the moment, I'm working by playing fiddle for a bit and then watching CSI, doing my ironing during the programme and playing my whistle in the ads. Works a treat. Only thing is, my SO complains when I try and play the theme tunes on my whistle, half-holing every note. Can't think why she complains ...
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I thought I was the only one with an issue since I have a 'day' job and the music is my real work. Unfortunatley the day job takes a great deal of my time. Mortgage man and the Lifestyle Herself has becomed accustomed to are in play here.
Since I moonlight as a church musician also, I have let my piano/organ work rely on those synapses developed 45 years ago in favor of working as much as possible on getting up to speed on my button box. (don't let those self-help websites that say age doesn't affect memory kid you....it is hard learning a new instrument later in life even as an experienced musician)
Technique has slipped (I notice, but the folks in the pews don't seem to, and I have had to do a 6PM saturday cut off on any fruit of the vine so I can deal with an 8AM sunday mass) I am trying to figure out how to squeeze it in.
I start at 5AM, but anything less than 2 hours per day on the box, and I am back to where I was a year ago pretty quickly.
And to boot, I have to learn enough Spanish to survive in the Bronx for my company.
Aprendir Espanol mientras yo mantenia los calendario de la ensayo esta dificil. That sounds even funnier if you were to hear me try and say it!
I just don't sleep as much, and Herself complains that I don't pay much attention to her. I sort of fixed that by letting her get a St. Bernard. Damn dog now gets more attention than I do!
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by zippydw
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I save the ped-antics for my bike. In fact, I've been encouraged to get "on yer bike" quite a lot. Nice to know people care.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by drone
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
so you're a cyclist, too, drone?
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Nate Ryan
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Zippydw, you aren't the only person on this web site who has trouble finding time to practice because you have a day job. Whenever I am asked to do overtime, I frequently say yes because we need the money but that means I have less time to practice. If you think you speak Spanish badly, then you most definitely don't want to listen to me try to speak Spanish or French.
Even though it seemed unnecessary, difficult, and a real pain in the *****, now I glad that I went to a school that required me to take a foreign language.
I used to ride a bicycle when I was younger but I had to quit because it is too difficult to carry a piano or a bass fiddle on a bicycle.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
The language idea is a good one. I'm on three intruments at the moment: Classical Guitar, Pennywhistle and Willowflute.
The Willowflute is getting most attention. The flute and whistle I practice in the park at lunchtimes...when it isn't raining. No practice today...
Guitar I'm allowed to practice at home. I get about an hour in the evening twice a week. It's a struggle, but I do get new tunes on each instrument, and improve my playing on the tunes I know.
The harmonica languishes, and the dulcimer ...just hangs on the wall.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Innocent Bystander
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I'm kind of in the same boat. I've been a violin/fiddle player for most of my life, but now I'm also trying to learn whistle and concertina. It's hard for me to put the fiddle down because I'm so comfortable with it and it's so much more fun to play an instrument that you know well enough to not have to think about what you're doing.
So I have to kind of force myself to put the fiddle down and work on concertina and whistle. I'm having an easier time with the whistle because I can carry it around with me and toot on it here and there.
I'll say this though, I'm glad that I started learning new instruments. At first I thought my fiddling would suffer, but it's given me a broader perspective of the music and I think it will help my fiddling in the long run.
# Posted on July 9th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
Pick one you want to focus on and play that more. There is no point in trying to be really good on multiple instruments you will just end up wearing yourself out. I play Flute and Mandolin/Bouzouki on average I will spend (atleast) 45mins to an hour on Flute and about 15-30mins on Mandolin this is a good option. You will get really good on one instrument and you will progress on the other. Of course the real key is if you want to get good on either you need to practice everyday its a simple as that.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Unseen122
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I tend to put a disproportionate amount of time into the instrument I'm not as good at. I guess it's because the better you get at an instrument, the more slowly you improve at it per hour of practice, so it's kind of a better use of my practice time to spend more time on the worse instrument.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
On Sunday, I suspect Kess rests from his labours............
The more instruments you play, the more your whole understanding of the music should deepen, well, theoretically at least.
As well as all aspects of ITM, STM, ETM, & ATM, I also sing in a Sacred Harp group, which used to sing just the ones we knew already, and never did the shapes. However, under the missionary influence of those of us who have been attending larger meetings of singers we now try to sing the shapes ( the parts written in a form of sol-fa ) before the hymns, and to try new ones. At the most recent meeting we all tried singing each part in turn, down to the bass part, written in bass clef, and although I don't understand the bass clef, except theoretically, I could sing it ( in a crowd, anyway ).
I'm actually still learning new things, even at the ripe old age of 6ty whatsit.........
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I've been handling it by giving up instruments.
Pete - This weekend, herself and I are headed to Cullman, Alabama, for a family reunion. Cullman is one of the spots where Sacred Harp was kept alive before the modern revival and there's a big singing coinciding with the reunion. Unfortunately, we'll be committed to familial duties.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
The only time I play whistle is in the kitchen while I'm waiting for something
to cook. It's permanently on the sink or cutting board.
It's amazing how many tunes I can play on it now. They're all in my head
from playing fiddle, where I learn lots of stuff from the evil "dots". The
whistle is effortless compared to the fiddle.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Hup
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I also play several instruments, so I generally try to get a little time on each of them every week. Sometimes, like right now, I'll just take a week and not play the pipes at all, and that week I'll just play tenor banjo, maybe the next week, I'll only play concertina, etc.
What I find is universally, when I go back to the instrument I've taken a break from, I'm playing it better and with more ease.
Brains are funny things, well, at least mine is wired oddly, it doesn't necessarily only improve with continuous hard use...
Michael
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Michael Eskin
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I find I practice more on the fiddle than on the banjo or guitar. No doubt because I'm taking lessons on that instrument. Also it's because I find that as I improve I want to play it more and more. But it's important to pick the others up occasionally so as to avoid going backwards at least. I try to make that once or twice a week. I keep thinking they'll get their proper turn in the future when I have more time. Though just how that's going to happen, I'm not sure. I agree about the inconvenience of having a day job. If only I didn't need to sleep...
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by fabphil39
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
I divide my time between instruments systematically.
I walk to my music room, and I turn off the lights.
I then enter, and the first instrument case I trip over, I practice that.
Once I become sufficiently frustrated and annoyed with my inablility to play ANYTHING (even to bleeping HUM) half as well as Matt Molloy, I look for the next instrument to practice upon, hoping I will sound better on that.
It inevitably doesn't, so on to the next, and so on , and so on...
Cheers.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Rook
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
No matter what instrument you play or don't play, you are still enhancing your knowledge and experiance in music. I just play whichever I feel like and the brainwork required for a whistle can improve your fiddle.
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by Picopanpipe
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
practise the one that earns the most dosh
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
geoffwright
Problem with that is playing the one that makes the most means I have to Godawful Contemporary American Church c**P for the General Motors of Church Music in Chicago-(lots of maj7's, flatted ninths with suspended 2nd's, 13's and 42'nds in unplayable keys in vocal ranges not meant for most human beings-but loved by some ex-seminarian GIA editor in Bedford Park) and learn alot of lliturgical lounge lizard music from the likes of Amy Grant in order to do weddings.
Sorry. I will spend my time on something useful like trying to learn 'Take me out to the Ball Game' on the Box in three keys with ornament, bass and harmonization.........
Truly more aesthetically pleasing than what I have to play on Sunday mornings!
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by zippydw
Re: Two instruments - dividing your practice time
can't type worth a d**n. "...means I have to play...." in hte first line
# Posted on July 10th 2008 by zippydw