Quitting My Job And Dedicating 8 Hours A Day For Practicing Guitar
rhoads
Nov 15 2010, 07:44 PM
Experienced Tone Seeker
Posts: 204
Joined: 3-December 09
From: Bucuresti, Romania
Hi everybody,

This will be a long post so I put the idea in the title to get your attention because I really need your opinions and advice on this.

On short: I want to save some money, give up my daily job and practice about 7-8 hours a day for one year.

To me it's clear now, playing guitar is what I like to do the most and I never stopped dreaming that one day this is what I will do this for a living also. I know it is possible (even here in Eastern Europe) because I have lots of examples and I am willing to pay the price to get there, but for this, there is one essential condition: to be VERY GOOD at it. You don't need to be a guitar god but to be VERY GOOD at it. And here is the problem. I discovered this instrument (and all the related stuff) at 22 years old. Now I am 26.

It's been almost 3 years now since I have taken practice seriously which means that I invested 90% of my free time to this. I tried to get to a an average of 4 hours a day for practice but, unfortunately these are after about 6-8 hours of programming which is what I do for a living for 6 years now. All this is starting to be really toxic because a have very little time to spend with my family and fiends, read a book, watch a movie and the list can go on and beside this, I kinda feel that most of the time was just wasted because you cannot really assimilate much after working a day in front of a computer. As a result: my skills are still pretty low. (you can check out my REC takes if you like: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...p?showuser=8284 or https://www.youtube.com/alexandrugeorgescu)

So, my plan is to save some money until around March next year that should last me for about 6 months, quit my job and start practicing 7-8 hours a day after a efficient agenda which I am sure I can find on GMC. Of course, to take some private lessons from a teacher in my town and there are some local bands which I can jam with. (I don't plan to practice alone for the whole time). So this will be the main activity of the day, just as I would have gone to a music school tongue.gif, and this way I will progress a lot better.

I know I said 1 year in the beginning but the 6 six months will be a milestone because my fear is that I still don't know if I have real talent at this. All I know I that I like it more than anything else and I want to do this for the rest of my life. I keep blaming it on the lack of time and on tiredness but I don't want to lie to myself and figure out some stuff about me. (I am not in high school anymore, not even college so I it is about time smile.gif. Anyway, if after 6 month of practicing like this I still feel that I am not too far from the level I am now, then.. maybe this isn't my thing after all, or maybe 22 years old it is just to late to start playing guitar. But if is the other way around then I will do anything I can to get another 4-6 month of practice like this. And maybe after one year I will have the necessary skills to join a let's say.. semi-professional band an develop from there on. And on. And oooooon, it's Heaven and Heeeell \m/ !!!. Ok, got a little carried away here smile.gif.

Anyway, rock and blues are the styles that I want to study. Would like jazz also but I haven't tried it before and I know that one year is not enough for this. I will approach it however.

So, please tell me, am I crazy ? is this a good idea ? do you think that one year is enough to get to a decent level ? (please check my REC takes also before answering to this one so you can have an idea of where I am now).

I know there are still lots to talk about, planing, etc but his was just the spark so.. please enlighten me smile.gif

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Marek Rojewski
Nov 15 2010, 08:51 PM
Experienced Guitar Lord
Posts: 1.671
Joined: 26-May 08
From: Lodz, Poland
I don't think that aiming at being "very good" in one year is a good idea. There is a limit of information that You can "digest" in a day/week/month. Also I would fear all those "guitar illnesses" that can develop with to much to hard practicing. Sure thing improving "a lot" in one year is possible, don't know if it is enough to be "very good". With good habits and fundamentals, You could start earning some money giving guitar lessons to beginners I suppose...

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This post has been edited by Marek Rojewski: Nov 15 2010, 08:51 PM


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Todd Simpson
Nov 16 2010, 02:13 AM
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Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
QUOTE (Marek Rojewski @ Nov 15 2010, 03:51 PM) *
I don't think that aiming at being "very good" in one year is a good idea. There is a limit of information that You can "digest" in a day/wee...


Marek has some GREAT points here. It is very admirable of you to want to focus so intently on your craft. However, as Marek points out, playing 8 hours a day can lead to problems like Repetitive Stress Injury (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), loss of health insurance and income (from not working), and isolation from family/friends (depending on which 8 hours of the day you play).

Not to mention his other great point that you can only absorb so much at a time. Becoming a "good" player takes YEARS of steady work. In my experience, it's persistence that makes a good even great player, not binge practicing. So consider if it would be possible to play at least 2 or 3 hours a day and still keep working, keep paying your health insurance (if you don't have any get a minimal plan to cover costs if you get hit by a truck), keep moving forward in terms of career/income level, etc. For example, wake up early every day and put in an hour before work. Then after you come home and get a bite to eat, put in another hour or even two. Then on the weekends, put in up to 8 per day but space it out over the day. Not all at once. Your brain needs to process all this as you go. In short, it's the old "Slow and Steady Wins the Race" approach. If you adopted a practice schedule like this, I think you'd see HUGE progress in a year and not have to quite your job to do it.

We have 10 percent unemployment here in the states, so giving up a Job now seems iffy at best. If you have a job of any kind, your in a lot better shape than a lot of folks. I hear horror stories of people who've been out of work for almost a year.

In the end it is your call. But as the guys are saying, consider all the angles first.

Todd

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Posts in this topic
- rhoads   Quitting My Job And Dedicating 8 Hours A Day For Practicing Guitar   Nov 15 2010, 07:44 PM
- - jstcrsn   QUOTE (rhoads @ Nov 15 2010, 07:44 PM) Hi...   Nov 15 2010, 08:04 PM
|- - MonkeyDAthos   QUOTE (jstcrsn @ Nov 15 2010, 07:04 PM) i...   Nov 15 2010, 08:49 PM
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|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Marek Rojewski @ Nov 15 2010, 07:5...   Nov 15 2010, 09:17 PM
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- - Chris Evans   hmmm, a lot to think about there, as jstcrsn said,...   Nov 15 2010, 08:52 PM
|- - MickeM   QUOTE (Chris Evans @ Nov 15 2010, 08:52 P...   Nov 15 2010, 09:48 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (MickeM @ Nov 15 2010, 08:48 PM) I ...   Nov 15 2010, 10:05 PM
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- - Mudbone   If you're already practicing up to four hours ...   Nov 15 2010, 10:11 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Mudbone @ Nov 15 2010, 09:11 PM) I...   Nov 15 2010, 10:38 PM
|- - Gary   QUOTE (Mudbone @ Nov 15 2010, 10:11 PM) I...   Nov 16 2010, 07:26 AM
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- - Ivan Milenkovic   I LOVE the way you think. I have news for you - Yo...   Nov 15 2010, 10:59 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Nov 15 2010, 09...   Nov 15 2010, 11:11 PM
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- - The Uncreator   Hard to say without knowing how the situation wher...   Nov 15 2010, 11:12 PM
- - ztevie   Isn't there a possibility to take some time of...   Nov 15 2010, 11:54 PM
- - Sollesnes   Might be nice to start the project with a band to ...   Nov 16 2010, 01:26 AM
- - Gus   I admire your courage. Pursuing your dream is much...   Nov 16 2010, 02:29 AM
- - maharzan   I love your spirit man. Go for it. At last the onl...   Nov 16 2010, 09:48 AM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (maharzan @ Nov 16 2010, 08:48 AM) ...   Nov 16 2010, 11:42 PM
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- - Fran   Interesting. Pursuing your goals and what you lov...   Nov 16 2010, 12:29 PM
- - Bogdan Radovic   If you can afford it financially and would say go ...   Nov 17 2010, 01:26 AM
- - maharzan   This might inspire you.   Nov 17 2010, 03:03 AM
- - rhoads   I am seeing him live in 3 weeks in Bucharest.   Nov 17 2010, 08:27 AM
- - Daniel Realpe   I would say that you should check with a cold appr...   Nov 21 2010, 04:06 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Daniel Realpe @ Nov 21 2010, 03:06...   Nov 23 2010, 11:43 PM
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- - maharzan   On the contrary, Daniel, that is a classic way of ...   Nov 23 2010, 05:10 AM
- - vampire18   you dont have to be that good, if you can play per...   Nov 24 2010, 09:04 PM
- - Ivan Milenkovic   I was in the similar place as you some years ago. ...   Nov 28 2010, 06:32 PM
- - rhoads   Good choice   Nov 28 2010, 07:13 PM
- - maharzan   Thumbs up Ivan. Is it just coincidence that most g...   Nov 29 2010, 05:17 AM
- - audiopaal   I wish I could afford quitting my job, and fully c...   Dec 2 2010, 09:37 AM
- - Kael   If you can afford it and you feel confident that y...   Dec 5 2010, 04:09 AM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Kael @ Dec 5 2010, 03:09 AM) If yo...   Dec 5 2010, 01:53 PM
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- - rhoads   Happy New Year everybody ! Just want to bring...   Jan 2 2011, 08:45 PM
|- - Daniel Realpe   QUOTE (rhoads @ Jan 2 2011, 09:45 PM) Hap...   Jan 4 2011, 05:51 PM
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- - Marek Rojewski   Bring the thunder!;)   Jan 2 2011, 08:58 PM
- - Gitarrero   All the best, man! And please keep us updated ...   Jan 2 2011, 09:20 PM
- - Kristian Hyvarinen   Hard work will always pay off, man!   Jan 3 2011, 08:46 AM
- - maharzan   Yep.. hard work will pay off.. but you will have t...   Jan 3 2011, 08:55 AM
- - Rik Veldhuizen   good luck! Enjoy the last few months of workin...   Jan 3 2011, 08:56 AM
- - rhoads   Hi again, Does anybody know what happens if I can...   Jan 11 2011, 07:49 PM
- - Gitarrero   As far as I know, you don't lose your forum pr...   Jan 11 2011, 08:08 PM
- - dark dude   You definately don't lose your forum access, b...   Jan 11 2011, 08:39 PM
- - Kristian Hyvarinen   My subscription was cancelled since I didn't h...   Jan 11 2011, 10:25 PM
- - rhoads   Good news in this case   Jan 11 2011, 10:36 PM
- - rhoads   One more month to go   Mar 4 2011, 05:40 PM
- - Michael AC   I am a programmer here in the states. Have you con...   Mar 15 2011, 01:51 AM
- - rhoads   I tried that, for almost three years. I worked onl...   Mar 15 2011, 06:54 PM
- - Nava   Wish you best of luck Great to see so dedicated ...   Mar 15 2011, 07:35 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Nava @ Mar 15 2011, 06:35 PM) Wish...   Mar 15 2011, 10:23 PM
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- - rhoads   Hi everybody ! This Monday was my last day of...   Apr 8 2011, 09:45 AM
- - Marek Rojewski   Wicked:)   Apr 8 2011, 10:00 AM
- - dark dude   QUOTE (rhoads @ Apr 8 2011, 09:45 AM) Hi ...   Apr 8 2011, 12:57 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (dark dude @ Apr 8 2011, 11:57 AM) ...   Apr 8 2011, 06:14 PM
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- - Fran   QUOTE (rhoads @ Apr 8 2011, 10:45 AM) Hi ...   Apr 8 2011, 03:34 PM
- - rhoads   Hi everybody ! Sorry for not posting anything...   Sep 26 2011, 10:11 PM
|- - SirJamsalot   I've read this thread in its entirety. I'm...   Sep 27 2011, 01:35 AM
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- - rhoads   Thanks for reading it all SirJamalot After I wen...   Sep 27 2011, 08:15 AM
|- - SirJamsalot   Well let's clear away the negative dross first...   Sep 27 2011, 09:17 AM
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- - Cosmin Lupu   Hey Alex! I will write this here so that ever...   Sep 27 2011, 09:39 AM
- - Marek Rojewski   Please don't see this advice as any kind of mo...   Sep 27 2011, 10:12 AM
|- - Cosmin Lupu   QUOTE (Marek Rojewski @ Sep 27 2011, 09:1...   Sep 27 2011, 10:38 AM
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- - rhoads   First of all thanks for all your thoughts. Ok, let...   Sep 27 2011, 01:35 PM
- - dark dude   Vocal training will allow you to connect with the ...   Sep 27 2011, 05:45 PM
|- - Todd Simpson   The guys bring up some great points Also, it...   Sep 27 2011, 07:25 PM
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- - Shuma13   "Regarding what you said SirJamsalot, with tr...   Sep 27 2011, 09:32 PM
|- - SirJamsalot   QUOTE (Shuma13 @ Sep 27 2011, 01:32 PM) ...   Sep 28 2011, 12:43 AM
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- - Mudbone   This turned out to be a great post, as there is a ...   Sep 28 2011, 01:03 AM
|- - Cosmin Lupu   QUOTE (Mudbone @ Sep 28 2011, 12:03 AM) T...   Sep 28 2011, 07:17 AM
|- - SirJamsalot   QUOTE (Mudbone @ Sep 27 2011, 05:03 PM) Y...   Sep 28 2011, 09:09 PM
|- - Frederik   QUOTE (SirJamsalot @ Sep 28 2011, 10:09 P...   Sep 28 2011, 11:06 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (SirJamsalot @ Sep 28 2011, 08:09 P...   Sep 29 2011, 07:10 AM
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- - Cosmin Lupu   I can turn anything into gold just by thinking abo...   Sep 29 2011, 07:27 AM
- - tonymiro   QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Sep 27 2011, 07:25 ...   Sep 29 2011, 10:10 AM
|- - Todd Simpson   QUOTE (tonymiro @ Sep 29 2011, 05:10 AM) ...   Sep 29 2011, 11:05 AM
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- - Cosmin Lupu   Time is what we make of it If we choose to rush ...   Sep 29 2011, 11:46 AM
- - rhoads   I was playing this song with some guys, a few mont...   Sep 29 2011, 11:51 AM
|- - Cosmin Lupu   QUOTE (rhoads @ Sep 29 2011, 10:51 AM) I...   Sep 29 2011, 12:42 PM
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- - rhoads   Hi everybody ! I've been away from this w...   Apr 13 2012, 11:53 AM
- - maharzan   Great to see updates rhoads. Its always great when...   Apr 13 2012, 12:06 PM
- - Ben Higgins   Welcome back Rhoads. It sounds like you had a lot ...   Apr 13 2012, 12:07 PM
|- - SirJamsalot   QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Apr 13 2012, 04:07 A...   Apr 13 2012, 06:31 PM
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- - dark dude   Great to hear that you kept your promise and pract...   Apr 13 2012, 04:20 PM
- - SirJamsalot   Rhoads ~ as you've experienced, playing live i...   Apr 13 2012, 07:16 PM
- - Alex Feather   Wow I read your post from the beginning and I must...   Apr 14 2012, 09:24 AM
- - Slavenko Erazer   You should take it as is - at least you have kept ...   Apr 14 2012, 11:22 AM
- - JaxN4   Hey Mate welcome back, I remember when you first p...   Apr 14 2012, 11:38 AM
- - Cosmin Lupu   Hey Alex! The romanian Alex I mean but hello ...   Apr 14 2012, 11:52 AM
- - rhoads   Thank you guys, QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Apr 13 ...   Apr 14 2012, 02:43 PM
- - rhoads   Hi all, This was my first week of working again ...   Apr 29 2012, 11:19 AM
- - Cosmin Lupu   Heading my way, man? If you want, I can try to ho...   Apr 29 2012, 11:39 AM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 29 2012, 10:39 A...   Apr 29 2012, 11:53 AM
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- - Cosmin Lupu   Alright mate well, if I hear about something I wi...   Apr 29 2012, 05:15 PM
|- - rhoads   QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Apr 29 2012, 04:15 P...   Apr 29 2012, 07:36 PM
|- - Cosmin Lupu   QUOTE (rhoads @ Apr 29 2012, 06:36 PM) Am...   Apr 29 2012, 08:18 PM
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- - graymic   QUOTE (rhoads @ Nov 15 2010, 07:44 PM) Hi...   Apr 30 2012, 09:44 AM
- - PosterBoy   Gray! It was a little too late for your advic...   May 2 2012, 06:46 AM
- - rhoads   Yes Mike. It's a bit to late. The year has pas...   May 2 2012, 07:49 AM
- - Cosmin Lupu   Well, Mr rhoads if you wish that, no, let me reph...   May 2 2012, 01:47 PM
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