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?
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.
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.
Slow and steady is always better, speed up when you nail what you are trying to do
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.
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!
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”.
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!