Three Secrets to Enjoy Practicing!

This article introduces new PartTimeMusician.com writer JP Montgomery. JP is a guitarist/bassist who will be contributing from time to time on a variety of subjects. JP’s hobbies include playing music, listening to music, and hanging out with his girlfriend…but not necessarily in that order.  :-)

Sitting alone in a room with the door closed and drilling all-too-familiar exercises is no fun for anyone. When I started playing guitar (and later, bass), I wanted to get rolling as quickly as possible. Who doesn’t?!? And once I got to a basic level of playing competence…well, I still didn’t want to waste a lot of time with boring exercises. Here’s what I do.

Warm Up with Scales

Well, that sounds boring, doesn’t it? You have to know the notes, but playing them doesn’t have to be a drudge! Add some pep to it, change up the rhythms, slur (winds), run patterns of notes, etc. Mix it up! This gets you warmed up, reinforces your scales in your head, and keeps things from getting lame.  :-)

Play some Challenging Music

After you’re warmed up, grab some challenging music from your stack and get busy. Whether it’s new music (for sight-reading, technique development, etc.) or just a piece you’ve been working on that remains just outside of your reach, this is the time to tackle it. Push yourself, but have fun with it. Work on that new chord, practice the riff your favorite lead player or bassist throws in during the best part of your favorite song, or whatever. Imagine yourself playing it for your buddies next week – that always gets me going!

Grab some TABs, Plug in the Tunes, and PLAY!

This is the dessert portion of the practice session. Plug your iPod into your amp via Line In (Editor’s note: See earlier article Really USE your practice amp for tips on this, especially if your amp doesn’t have a dedicated Line In plug), grab some tablature or sheet music, and just kick it! If you know the music well, experiment (remember those grooves we were talking about earlier?). If it’s a new piece you’ve been dying to play, just work your way into it and live in the moment! There is just something about playing along with your favorite artist/group that really gets the juices going. In fact, you may have to make yourself put down the axe once you’ve gotten to this point!

Simple as it is, it keeps me driving forward. Give it a try! Life doesn’t always have to be hard, you know.  :-)

Peace,
JP

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Welcome to the New Year. Now what?

I’ve been intending to write a “look ahead” since the month began, pointing to the promise of the new year…musically speaking, of course. Before we begin, though, a quick review is in order.

Mark posted a very nice article here at the beginning of last year. (Go ahead, click the link in the previous sentence and read the article; I’ll wait right here.  :-D) The three key points he hit were:

1. What’s done is done
2. Look for the opening(s)
3. Set realistic goals and GO FOR THEM

While I think he covered the top 3 quite well, I’d also like to add the following as an important fourth point:

4. Don’t be afraid to adjust your plan

Goals are wonderful things, and please don’t take this as license to scrap a goal every time things get tough…but life has a way of changing around us. If we don’t adapt as our situation changes, it’s a recipe for frustration. So set your goals, large and small, and by all means work diligently to achieve them! But take the time to periodically re-examine them to see if they still make sense…and if not, change them so that they do. Be honest with yourself, mix equal parts realism and optimism, and get busy! This year has such wonderful potential for you as a Part-Time Musician; help yourself make the most of it.  :-)

Wishing you all a very musical year,
Kathy

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Three Secrets to Dealing with Criticism

People often fall into one of two categories: those who are blind to their weaknesses, and those who overestimate them. When criticized, though, every one of us suffers the same struggles. How does one deal with the criticism that is bound to come our way? Here are three secrets to not just accepting criticism, but benefitting from it.

Secret #1: Determine if there is merit to the criticism. If it’s accurate – even if it hurts – move past the bad feelings it may have caused and begin to fix whatever is “broken”.

If the criticism is particularly harsh, this is often quite difficult to do. But if there is much that is wrong, that means that there is much potential for growth. Try to view it from that perspective, determine how to address the key points of the criticism, and begin working toward bettering yourself. You’ve just been handed a golden opportunity to improve…so make the most of it!

Secret #2: If there is a nugget of truth wrapped in an unhealthy dose of venom, separate the delivery from the useful information and “take out the trash”.

Sometimes this is more difficult to deal with than the above scenario of 100% accurate (but rather harsh) criticism, because it’s easy to lose the useful-to-you information in the noise of the unfair remarks that came along with it. Try making a list of the key critical points and striking through those without merit; whatever is left is all you should consider from that point forward. If it helps to make a new list (so you aren’t constantly rehashing those items you’ve eliminated as unfair or untrue), do so! Make them your “to do” list, determine how best to address them, and start reaping the rewards for your efforts.

Secret #3: If there is no merit to the criticism – none at all – flush it.

This is tough for those who tend to overestimate their own weaknesses…and is often used as an escape hatch for those who are blind to them. Don’t immediately dismiss criticism; give yourself enough time to really consider it. But if you do determine it is baseless bashing, forget about it. Every one of us has been, and will be, unfairly criticized by others. Don’t waste time and brain cycles rehashing what someone says out of ignorance or spitefulness. Finding a more constructive outlet for your time will not only make you better, it will also make you feel better – a win/win.

In summary, take a moment to determine just how much weight to give criticism before you spring into action or worse, fall into depression. If the criticism is accurate, act on it; if it’s partially correct, distill it; and if it’s baseless, flush it. Whatever you do, though, don’t absorb it or ignore it. Use it to your advantage. In this case, it really is “all about you”.  :-)

Keep playing,
Mark

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Three tips for setting – and reaching – your goals

As we begin a new year, many of us reflect upon last year’s accomplishments – and the many things we somehow failed to accomplish – and contemplate how we can make this year a better one. Let’s do a quick 360, looking through our special PTM lens to see what we can look forward to in 2010.

1. What’s done is done

Did you achieve all of your musical goals in 2009? No? Well, guess what? No one else did, either! If you manage to hit every goal you ever set, that only means that you aren’t setting challenging enough goals.

TIP: Stop beating yourself up over missed goals, lazy streaks, unforeseen difficulties mastering a particular bit of technique, or whatever. What’s done is done! Relish your accomplishments, whether meager or myriad, and look forward to the year ahead!

2. Look for the opening(s)

Not one of us has the “perfect job” that allows us to practice when we want, as long as we want, wherever we want. Factor in family, spouse’s employment, and other commitments, and it’s easy to get discouraged. When is it even possible to play?!?!

TIP: Try to look at those “obstacles” as puzzles to be solved rather than roadblocks. Two hours a day may never be possible for you; sadly, it isn’t for me, either. Playing an instrument is just like (financial) investing, though: start with whatever you can. If you spot an opening of five minutes a day, TAKE IT! Your progress corresponds with your dedication, but even slow progress beats no progress. Once you’re in the mindset of daily playing, you’ll also be surprised at the other openings that present themselves…as long as you’re flexible.

3. Set realistic goals and GO FOR THEM

Once you’ve gotten past the self-flagellation (#1) and have identified some opportunities for practicing/playing (#2), it’s time to write down some goals. This is where the rubber really hits the road.

TIP: Identify incremental goals, write them down, and work toward them daily. Maybe you want to increase your range by one note/month, learn a new chord every week, tackle a new etude or concerto every quarter, or just learn to tune your new instrument. All are worthy goals. Write them down, review your list each day, and do your level best to work toward them daily. You’ll miss a day here and there, of course, but seeing those goals each morning will help you keep on track. How do I know that? Well, if it can work for me, it can work for anyone.

May you all have a wonderful, productive, and richly rewarding 2010!

All the best,
Mark

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Top three ‘gotchas’ of buying music mail-order

Over the years, our family has bought a lot of music: method books, technique books, scale studies, compilations, sheet music, ensemble packages…you name it, and we’ve bought it. (With five PTMs in the house, music is a near-constant investment!) Much of this music was purchased from local stores, but we’ve also bought frequently via mail-order (catalog or online). Over time, we’ve developed a few guidelines that make mail-order music buying an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Know the piece

You might be surprised how many pieces share the same name. If a selection is requested for a gig you’re doing…or by your instructor…or maybe you just heard it on the radio and want to learn it, double-check the composer/opus/version/performer to be sure you order the right one. Playing the Schubert Ave Maria won’t make for a happy bride if she’s expecting the Bach/Gounod. 

Know the publisher

The same piece can be available from different publishers, so if your instructor requests you purchase a particular piece, always check the publisher. This is always a good idea, but never more so than with concertos. Different publishers often include different cadenzas. Gotcha!

Never, ever choose discount shipping

The worst gotcha of all? In my opinion, it’s discount shipping. Unless you have a month and a half to wait, just don’t do it. Spring for the extra couple of bucks and save the headaches.

Many mail-order music stores offer discount shipping, including one of our advertisers here, SheetMusicPlus. In fact, my first (and last) bad experience with discount shipping was for an order I had placed with them. But like many other vendors, their discount shipping option uses USPS Media Mail for delivery, and that is not a good thing.

USPS Media Mail makes no guarantees of timeframes, advertises 1-3 week delivery times (even mailing next door), and offers no way to track your order. Though the folks at SheetMusicPlus were sympathetic, there was little they could do to help by the time we reported that surely-our-order-is-missing. It finally did arrive…32 days after I placed the order.

The bottom line

Buying music mail-order, via catalog or online, greatly expands your options and ability to get the music you want or need quickly. If you’re careful to avoid the three gotchas of “Piece, Publisher, and Postal Service”, you’ll stand a great chance of getting the music you want quickly at an excellent price.

Have a personal experience you’d like to share? Please leave us a comment; we’d love to hear from you!

Keep playing!
Mark

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