I recently noticed that I very often get similar questions from new players. I asked these same questions myself when I was starting out. I even heard some of the same answers from my instructors, and the answers seemed nearly infuriating on some level. Only with some perspective are the answers starting to make some sense
If Yoda himself were to teach guitar, I imagine it may start something like this. (These are actual questions from a recent exchange with a student)
YOUNG PADAWAN LEARNERQUESTION: Does one simply have to push and play as fast as one can all the time
or is it maybe a way much better idea to stop the metronome and concentrate
on the efficient physical movements of every finger and THEN turn the metronome
on and try to play like that at max tempo, etc......
YODA VOICE: In short, NO. DON"T push non stop. As I am often fond of saying,
"Speed is a byproduct of precision"
Once you have good precision, speed just happens. You won't need to focus on it. It's almost an after effect.
YOUNG PADAWAN LEARNERQUESTION: What would be the most efficiant way to approach an exercise long-term?
30 minutes every day? 30 minutes the first day + 10 minutes every day?
The same but with day gaps? Or just on monday every week?
YODA VOICE: Ahh, young Padawan, this is the most common question I get asked, perhaps the most common question every instructor gets asked. Its an understandable concern
What's "Best". The answer, sadly, is far more complicated. Essentially, finding out your own way forward is integral to the process of learning. Only you can determine what is best and only by stumbling forward and figuring out as you go, albeit with guidance from helpers like the staff and students here @ GMC. I'd say try to use as much structure as you are comfortable with, but don't push so hard that you burn out. Try to keep yourself interested. After all, the main thing that keeps students from getting better is simply,
not practicing.There is no "magic formula" imho. The key is to keep playing.
Keep practicing. Consistency is important, but it doesn't have to be Militaristic. Trust yourself and your instincts. The worst thing you can do is put too much pressure on yourself to play too much, then get fed up and quit. So just integrate your playing in to your daily life. Don't think of it as a separate activity.
YOUNG PADAWAN LEARNERQUESTION: Are there any exercises that don't do much and are there any combinations
that bring much better results? I think that there are no shortcuts and one should practice hard in order to get good.
But I do believe that one could "HACK" the process and change little things in his/her
approach and get things done much more quickly.YODA VOICE:As for exercises, again, it depends on you. Whichever ones you find helpful, do more often!! I wish there were a way to "Hack" the process and skip the years of hard work needed to become really good at ones chosen instrument. Fortunately for us, as musicians, it's one of those things in life you can't fake, can't cheat and can't rush. You either earn it, or you don't and it's easy to tell whether one has or hasn't just by listening
Patience!!!! and PRACTICE!!
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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Oct 11 2014, 04:27 AM
Think well on how you choose to walk this path, as there are many ways, as Todd very well pointed out.
