Being retired and stuck in the house. How much practice is too much. I fiddle with my harp a few hours a day. I see some progress but cant help think if i slow down i might get more out of it. Thoughts?
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Hi @lasersolutionswi. I’m also retired, a relative beginner and although not stuck in the house, I have plenty of time to practice. I’ve read that we should practice for a minimum 5 minutes a day, or even just 30 seconds. But you’re asking about a maximum and I don’t think there is a definitive answer. I practice almost every day for 15 minutes to 2 hours, usually alternating a longer or shorter session from day to day. Some people have said they play better resuming after a break but that raises another question about how long the break should be. I think the more you practice, the better you will play but it doesn’t always feel that way. It takes a while for your brain to wire it all together. If you are getting some happiness from what you are doing, and it doesn’t feel like a burden then I don’t think that what you are doing is too much. If it does feel like a burden, then maybe slow down.
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Also retired so have lots of free time. I split my time between guitar, bass, keyboards, ukulele, mandolin, re.corder (a digital wind instrument based on the recorder) and harmonicas plus I have to walk at least one hour per day. I don’t play any of the instruments that well and my aim is just to have fun with it and I tend to play bite-size sessions of about 15 minutes each - longer sessions with the re.corder and midi keyboards. I often play while watching football (soccer) with the commentary turned down! Harmonicas are the easiest to pick up and play and I have a playlist of around 20 songs that I play by ear. I’m trying to add to the repertoire.
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Slow and steady is always better, speed up when you nail what you are trying to do
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I’m assuming that “get more out of it” means progress your skills quicker (e.g., get more progress out of the time spent). If that’s the case:
Time is necessary, but not sufficient. What matters is how you spend the time. Generally, you want to dedicate portions of time to each of the following:
- Warm up with breathing and tone exercises
- Body work, like staying relaxed while you play
- Music & theory exercises
- Technical skill focus time
- Learning songs
- Improvising
- Recording
- Listen
- Listen & copy
You don’t have to do them all every day, but the more you do the better it works.
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That’s my take too. There is so much fun to be had from multiple instruments, and if improvisation is your thing (it’s mine) then I find it fascinating how different that experience is with the different instruments - each wants to make its own music! 
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You’re right. I enjoy doing improv on the bass although my dexterity and hand strength etc is deteriorating with age so I have to keep sessions short and I use short scale bass guitars. I also play along to songs on a sheet music app called Tomplay. And I have fun doing improv with midi keyboards and various software plugins. As Frank Zappa said “music is the best”.
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I have a very quick and easy solution for your question!
The gist is that you are wondering if slowing down might be better to “get more out of it”
- as such, try playing around 30% of the amount you usually practice for a few days to see how it will impact your progress and if it will improve the whole “mindfulness” thing - feels like you may be trying to force your progress, instead relax a bit and enjoy!
- glad to be of help!
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