That was amazing! You are extremely talented. I for one loved this. We used go to the symphony whenever it was in town. The grandparents the grandkids and us. It was always a big outing. The Christmas symphony was always the favourite because we would always go out for dinner afterwards. My FIL loved symphonic music and classical. That’s all he ever played. In my household it was the Big band era with Benny Goodman etc. I was exposed to so many different types of music. I still love classical music today and will listen to it to get ideas when I am composing a song but.....I will forever be a classic Rocknroll 80’s babe. I can be in the crappiest, foulest mood, throw on Back in Black and I am so happy once again. I don’t have a care in the world.I practiced a lot of piano as a kid, did the Czerny classical exercises, scales, the whole bit. Not that I have that stuff under my fingers any more...use it or lose it. But I've never practiced guitar a day in my life. I just play. Dunno why, but it seems to work, maybe because I've always regarded keys as my main instrument, and guitar as a "fun thing."
This isn't a prescription for anyone else; we each have our own thing with regard to music.
However, since Covid, there hasn't been much guitar. I've been composing orchestral music every dang day. Like a fiend! A little of it I keep, and if so, I work on it endlessly until I'm happy with it. Most gets tossed. So I guess I'd call my practice 'learning by doing'?
The orchestral writing seems to be having a good impact on my music, whether that's rock, electronic, or some blend. This is my latest completed orchestral piece. Orchestral won't appeal to most here, but I love creating it.
https://soundcloud.com/lschefman/neologic-iii
That was amazing! You are extremely talented. I for one loved this. We used go to the symphony whenever it was in town. The grandparents the grandkids and us. It was always a big outing. The Christmas symphony was always the favourite because we would always go out for dinner afterwards. My FIL loved symphonic music and classical. That’s all he ever played. In my household it was the Big band era with Benny Goodman etc. I was exposed to so many different types of music. I still love classical music today and will listen to it to get ideas when I am composing a song but.....I will forever be a classic Rocknroll 80’s babe. I can be in the crappiest, foulest mood, throw on Back in Black and I am so happy once again. I don’t have a care in the world.
It was pretty dismal at first and I got kicked out if my very first band. That was a very sad experience for me but there was a lesson to be learned. I needed to pull up my socks and get on with it.
I might be a bit like Les in that I don't practice much any more. I mostly sit down and play.
When I started, I practiced a lot. Hours with scales, hours with beats...or off beats...or asymmetric rhythms. I wanted to have what notes worked together and how to create a feel embedded in my soul. Then I moved on to technique type practice. I would spend 10-15 minutes playing on one string, or only using my left hand, or sliding, or vibrato. I never really learned trem because I didn't have one - a shame, because I love people who do it really well.
Then, when I was performing a lot it became about:
- reading skills - meaning sight read real time (Ice Capades for example, we got one run through the score before we had an arena full of people and skaters who needed us to play right. exactly right)
- being able to fake a song really quickly (playing 3-6 shows a week and full + time premed didn't leave time for practice)
So, I kind of fell out of practice and got used to just playing.
To today, my routine is something like this:
- tune up, loosen my fingers with one of a few originals that get all of my fingers engaged and used to the size of the fingerboard I have in my hand
- play some things that interest me: might be classical, might be something from my mom's piano books, might be classics, often things I've written over the years, might be whatever songs are in some random guitar magazine, might just be working on some ideas
I think a lot of that is just being fearless.The fact that you're a good enough sight-reader to play with skating shows is damned impressive, if you ask me.
Very kind of you to say. Thank you.I also like your original pieces that you've posted to videos. Talented guy!
I am very impressed too! I haven’t site read since school. That was like a century ago. I always wanted to go back to school and get a degree in music but not with this Covid thing going on and I wouldn’t be a good online student. I would be napping while class going on.The fact that you're a good enough sight-reader to play with skating shows is damned impressive, if you ask me.
I also like your original pieces that you've posted to videos. Talented guy!
Oh, I “play” one daily but what I would call “practice” is rare these days.I have mild OCD it drives me to practice on my guitar. I just have to. I can’t ignore this urge.
I am very impressed too! I haven’t site read since school. That was like a century ago. I always wanted to go back to school and get a degree in music but not with this Covid thing going on and I wouldn’t be a good online student. I would be napping while class going on.
Now I understand your interest in detailing.I have mild OCD it drives me to practice on my guitar. I just have to. I can’t ignore this urge.
Everything must be perfect though. Ppl get me to do things for them because they know my work ethic and I always but always strive for perfection. I can never do anything half assed.Now I understand your interest in detailing.