Finding “Extra” time to practice guitar
Guitar can lead to some great experiences, and I have made it my goal to help others reach them as easily as possible.
One thing that I’ve found common with many guitarists is that they have trouble finding the time to fit guitar into their busy day. Let’s face it, with work, responsibilities, and an entire day full of commotion and distractions, practicing your instrument can often seem impossible. If guitar is something you enjoy, then you must “make” the time.
I would like to share with you several ways that you can find more than enough time to improve/practice. Try some out and see if it helps.
· Wake up earlier. Need more time in the day? Simple, set your alarm a little bit earlier. Even setting your alarm 15-30 minutes earlier can help give you a head start on your day. You may find some of your most productive time this way. If you are too groggy early in the morning to practice, then use this time to handle a responsibility or chore that you would’ve had to do later on in the day.
· Reduce wasted time. Most people waste MUCH more time than they are aware of (or would like to admit). Time spent watching T.V. and on social networking sites can easily add up to several hours per week (if not per day). Time spent chatting on the phone can be a huge culprit as well. Watch a little less TV, check facebook (and your email) a little less often, occasionally let your voicemail take your phone calls.
· Stay awake a little bit later. How many more minutes would you need to stay up to review a couple songs, scales, or chords? You can do more in a little bit of time than you might think.
· Play you guitar during TV commercials. If you have to watch some of your favorite TV programs, keep your guitar handy. There are at least 15-20 minutes of commercial time every hour.
· Learn to practice away from your guitar.
There are tons and tons of things that you can practice and learn about while you do not have a guitar handy. By learning to practice in this way, you can take advantage of all the instances in your day that may not be utilized, such as extra minutes on your lunch break, time spent traveling to or from work, and even moments like standing in line at a grocery store. What makes it even better is that you will not need to spend valuable practice time dedicated to these things. Practicing away from your guitar is a very big topic, but just a few examples or this are music theory drills (mentally or written), Ear training, creativity drills (for song writing and phrasing), or even physically exercising your hands by performing drills on the back of your “other” wrist or on a small cut out guitar neck. I have a small foam guitar neck that I carry with me to practice in places like movie theaters for example. Get creative and I am sure you can think of lots of other ways to practice throughout your day.
I hope you found some of these tips helpful. If you have any music related questions feel free to contact me HERE. To find out more about guitar lesson in Beaver County click HERE.