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Posted by: lcsdds Sep 9 2008, 01:47 PM

Anybody practice with a timer? It seems to me it is the most efficient way to get the most out of your practice time. I am working on Muris' "B flat minor Phrasing". I have broken it down into 12 licks and I spend about 5 min on every lick. I will play the lick at 5 different tempos for 1 minute each. That way I can get through the whole piece thoroughly in about an hour. One of the coolest things about GMC is that alot of the lessons cover many aspects of technique in the lesson. I feel like I can spend 1 hour on the B flat minor phrasing lesson and get a great workout for my technique. Much more fun than just running excercises for an hour. GREAT SITE!! Thanks to all who contribute to make it what it is!!

Monte

Posted by: Matt23 Sep 9 2008, 01:54 PM

Yeh i do this.

Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Sep 9 2008, 01:54 PM

You have just said...HOLY WORDS! With a timer you can't say...ok ok...just another minute...not!! He rules and you have to follow your practicing schedule. I repeat...you have just said HOLY WORDS (at least for me) practice with a timer will let you practice a lot stuff each day.

Posted by: Emir Hot Sep 9 2008, 02:41 PM

this is good way of practicing but I never count my minutes. Sometimes I end up playing for 7 hours Counting time can be cool because it doesn't let you overplay stuff but I never stop before I really learn the lick properly regardless of how much time it takes.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Sep 9 2008, 03:22 PM

Its great feature to time your metronome practice !! Really makes you much more efficient! And yeah GMC lessons are made to be fun but at the same time very engaging on different subjects (technique and theory vise) so you learn a lot!

Posted by: Jose Mena Sep 9 2008, 04:00 PM

Maybe I should do this, I am a little stupid sometimes, when I create something new, or learn a new lick and it doesn't come out right I get obsessed to the point that people around me think I must be insane. My wife once told me she god scared because I played straight for 2 days almost didn't sleep or eat, trying to develop stamina to play fast for long periods of time. I realize now it was stupid, I don't know what got into me. She thought I was possessed or something, haha. Sometimes I find it hard to stop. A timer would probably make her feel safer, she would know that I will only play for a certain amount of time and not overplay myself into a coma

Posted by: lcsdds Sep 9 2008, 06:16 PM

This seems to be the most efficient way to get through a piece of music or study certain techniques, especially if you are starved for time. I, like alot of you probably, have work, a wife, 3 kids and am kind of starved for time, but I still have drive to want to progress on the instrument. I actually have to get up at 3am to practice so I can get my 3-4 hrs in a day. The timer let's me maximize my results. HOLY WORDS!!

Monte

Posted by: fatb0t Sep 9 2008, 06:45 PM

Hm, Im not very organized - but this is a really good idea.... I will certainly try it.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 9 2008, 07:05 PM

It seems like a pretty effective way to do it. I don't use a timer, I more prefer similar method as Emir, but timer can be a good thing as well, specially if you have a good and disciplined approach to your practice sessions.

Posted by: jacmoe Sep 10 2008, 06:22 PM

Yah - but you're lucky to be able to do that.

The rest of us need something which makes the most out of our limited, but precious practice time..

Yes, I do use a timer.

Posted by: Emir Hot Sep 10 2008, 10:28 PM

This is how I see that situation. You decide to learn something and set 20 minutes for that lick. After 20 minutes you move to another one (just because the timer said so) and still can't play the first one. What's the point? You will probably forget the first one in an hour. That's why I like to stick to something until I really know it and then move on. This might not work for everybody but to me this makes perfect sense.

Posted by: DeepRoots Sep 10 2008, 10:35 PM

I use a timer for legato chop building "a la rock discipline", switch exercises after each minute- a great workout.

Also i tim each section of my routine, 10 on AP, 10 on legato etc etc etc- you can get a nice well-rounded session this way.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Sep 10 2008, 10:35 PM

I thought it's about metronome.

I never used timer/clockwatch when playing or practicing indeed,
maybe it's because music is always like the only thing I have been doing lately,lot of time for it.
But when you're studying or going to school(even have a job)
then you really need to split your free time wisely.
If timer works for your,it's good.

Posted by: DeepRoots Sep 10 2008, 10:37 PM

Makes sense to me!- sometimes i'll put an extra 5 minutes on, if you feel you havent got the most out of that 10 minutes- then add more time! Otherwise that time you spent partially learning a lick is wasted

Posted by: Outlaw2112 Sep 11 2008, 02:29 AM

I never use a timer.. I always seem to work on something til i get it down or get exhausted trying...
If i tried using a timer i would always be thinking of what i was trying to do before and how i could get it down

Posted by: fkalich Sep 11 2008, 02:48 AM

I don't for guitar, don't need it.

But for some it might be useful. I have always been able to stay in shape because I time my exercise routine, and stick to it. And years ago (when I studied Karate a bit) I wanted to do the splits. I would hold the three positions with a timer, each for a minute. In three months I was able to do the splits both ways.

But for guitar, I don't need it. I practice enough, and don't see anything really to correct, or any need for some form of external discipline. The only reason I might do it, is to force myself to play less when I don't have the time. As Jose said.

Jose, you and I seem to agree on a lot. Sorry.

Posted by: jacmoe Sep 11 2008, 04:20 PM

You have a point here, Emir!

I must confess, that I don't use the timer after my initial warm-up / technique session.
When I do repertoire and improvising, I tend to drift into the playing of music..

Posted by: lcsdds Sep 11 2008, 05:29 PM

I agree with Emir as well when it comes to learning a lick. I guess I use the timer mostly for a song I am trying to learn that I know the licks but just don't have them up to speed. That way I can break it down into an hour's worth or licks and make sure I get through the whole song in the limited practice time I have. When learning a lick, it takes as long as it takes.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Sep 11 2008, 06:03 PM

I use a timer only as a reminder for other stuff, because I tend to forget if I need to do something etc.. But for practicing - no timer, every time is good for practice