Moving beyond your comfort zone: what is your style of learning?
Here is a common situation:
You’ve been playing the guitar for a number of years now. You may be self taught or have had a few lessons but may have never moved beyond learning some basic chords and strumming patterns. Lately you’re getting a little bored and feel the need to improve your playing... especially after hearing or seeing some players that really inspired you.
An example: Let’s say that ‘Tom’ has been playing rhythm guitar in the bluegrass style for years but secretly always wanted to learn some of that fancy picking that guys like Tony Rice or Byran Sutton play. However, Tom has never had any lessons, has never played lead nor ventured beyond the 5th fret. Understandably... he’s a bit intimidated.
Luckily Tom has already taken the first step: establishing a broad goal. But what will be his next step? How will he remain motivated without letting frustration stop him in his tracks? How can he move safely out of his comfort zone?
Here is how I would address Toms’ situation:
Everyone has different goals and learns at a different rate and has different way of learning. What I mean by style of learning is that some folks are more visually oriented while others prefer using the sense of hearing. Determining your style(s) is important.
Throughout you have to also maintain a degree of self examination and reflection in order to spot your problem areas.
Before you start thinking of a practice schedule I think determining your goals, problem areas, learning style, rate at which can absorb new materials and how much time you can devote to daily practice should be addressed. Without these considerations you may flounder despite the amount of focus, time and energy you put into practicing.
Let's start with a goal you mentioned: Adding some Rice and Suttons style to your own. How would you do this? There are numerous DVD instructional materials out there, tab, music, Youtube examples and even private instructors who can help you. The question is what works for you... what style of learning are you more readily to adapt to? You mention not reading much tab or music, so perhaps the written page won't cut it. What about the other visual aids... DVDs, Youtube and what an instructor could show you? Or are you more of a person who learns more through listening... or a combination of listening and watching others? Determining your tried and true way of learning will help you figure out HOW you should be learning.
Through your own self examination you've determined that your picking may be a bit sloppy. That's good... not playing sloppy but recognizing there's a problem to address. Constant reflection of your progress or lack of will bring to light any rough spots that will always arise as you learn. It's up to you to stay aware of them so you can work on them in your practice sessions
Finally, at what rate can you absorb new material and how much time can you put in? People learn at various different rates for a host of reasons depending on their lifestyles and mental capacities. Find out if you can handle learning a new technique once a day or once a week. It's never a good idea to overburden yourself with too much material. Only you will discover this through trial and error.
I believe that determining these factors ahead of time will give you a better idea of how to structure your practice session.
So, here's a hypothetical example. Let's assume you've done all this homework and you've determined the following:
1) Your goals are well defined.... add some of Rice and Suttons playing to your own.
2) You learn best by watching instructional DVDs. Your visual senses prefer this over tab and music. You also enjoy being able to rewind and review past information.
3) Your problem area is technique, specifically when you attempt to play faster.
4) Your rate of speed for learning is pretty good, meaning that mastering a new song, riff or technique once a week works well as you determined you could probably practice at least 6 days a week, 1 to 2 hours a day.
Armed with this information, lets assume you purchased a Bryan Sutton DVD and you're ready to go.
You’ve addressed your technique and decided that you’ll need to work on your right and left hand technique. Good. There are plenty of instructional materials out there so once you have some you’ll devote a certain portion of your practice time to that. Good news... that DVD addresses some of that.
Another problem area for you may be developing speed so working with a metronome will also be added to your time.
Wouldn’t it be nice to add an instrumental to your repertoire? Of course and that’s what you’ll be doing in order to pick those fancy solos. So spend some time learning something completely new. That’s always fun.
You’ll also need to learn some scales if you want to play in that style. Set aside some time for that.
How will you section off your 90 minute practice session in order to include all of this?
I'm going to leave the last piece of this puzzle to you, because I feel that only you will be able to make this decision. I'm also going to guess that you may change things around as you constantly progress as a player, discover new goals and problem areas and deal with lifestyle changes that can determine how much time you can put it. However, I'm confident that by maintaining a daily practice schedule with clear cut goals you’ll make some amazing progress and be a much happier and confident player.
Don't forget to bookmark this page. It'll be gone by next month!
Play nice and stay tuned,
Toby
You’ve been playing the guitar for a number of years now. You may be self taught or have had a few lessons but may have never moved beyond learning some basic chords and strumming patterns. Lately you’re getting a little bored and feel the need to improve your playing... especially after hearing or seeing some players that really inspired you.
An example: Let’s say that ‘Tom’ has been playing rhythm guitar in the bluegrass style for years but secretly always wanted to learn some of that fancy picking that guys like Tony Rice or Byran Sutton play. However, Tom has never had any lessons, has never played lead nor ventured beyond the 5th fret. Understandably... he’s a bit intimidated.
Luckily Tom has already taken the first step: establishing a broad goal. But what will be his next step? How will he remain motivated without letting frustration stop him in his tracks? How can he move safely out of his comfort zone?
Here is how I would address Toms’ situation:
Everyone has different goals and learns at a different rate and has different way of learning. What I mean by style of learning is that some folks are more visually oriented while others prefer using the sense of hearing. Determining your style(s) is important.
Throughout you have to also maintain a degree of self examination and reflection in order to spot your problem areas.
Before you start thinking of a practice schedule I think determining your goals, problem areas, learning style, rate at which can absorb new materials and how much time you can devote to daily practice should be addressed. Without these considerations you may flounder despite the amount of focus, time and energy you put into practicing.
Let's start with a goal you mentioned: Adding some Rice and Suttons style to your own. How would you do this? There are numerous DVD instructional materials out there, tab, music, Youtube examples and even private instructors who can help you. The question is what works for you... what style of learning are you more readily to adapt to? You mention not reading much tab or music, so perhaps the written page won't cut it. What about the other visual aids... DVDs, Youtube and what an instructor could show you? Or are you more of a person who learns more through listening... or a combination of listening and watching others? Determining your tried and true way of learning will help you figure out HOW you should be learning.
Through your own self examination you've determined that your picking may be a bit sloppy. That's good... not playing sloppy but recognizing there's a problem to address. Constant reflection of your progress or lack of will bring to light any rough spots that will always arise as you learn. It's up to you to stay aware of them so you can work on them in your practice sessions
Finally, at what rate can you absorb new material and how much time can you put in? People learn at various different rates for a host of reasons depending on their lifestyles and mental capacities. Find out if you can handle learning a new technique once a day or once a week. It's never a good idea to overburden yourself with too much material. Only you will discover this through trial and error.
I believe that determining these factors ahead of time will give you a better idea of how to structure your practice session.
So, here's a hypothetical example. Let's assume you've done all this homework and you've determined the following:
1) Your goals are well defined.... add some of Rice and Suttons playing to your own.
2) You learn best by watching instructional DVDs. Your visual senses prefer this over tab and music. You also enjoy being able to rewind and review past information.
3) Your problem area is technique, specifically when you attempt to play faster.
4) Your rate of speed for learning is pretty good, meaning that mastering a new song, riff or technique once a week works well as you determined you could probably practice at least 6 days a week, 1 to 2 hours a day.
Armed with this information, lets assume you purchased a Bryan Sutton DVD and you're ready to go.
You’ve addressed your technique and decided that you’ll need to work on your right and left hand technique. Good. There are plenty of instructional materials out there so once you have some you’ll devote a certain portion of your practice time to that. Good news... that DVD addresses some of that.
Another problem area for you may be developing speed so working with a metronome will also be added to your time.
Wouldn’t it be nice to add an instrumental to your repertoire? Of course and that’s what you’ll be doing in order to pick those fancy solos. So spend some time learning something completely new. That’s always fun.
You’ll also need to learn some scales if you want to play in that style. Set aside some time for that.
How will you section off your 90 minute practice session in order to include all of this?
I'm going to leave the last piece of this puzzle to you, because I feel that only you will be able to make this decision. I'm also going to guess that you may change things around as you constantly progress as a player, discover new goals and problem areas and deal with lifestyle changes that can determine how much time you can put it. However, I'm confident that by maintaining a daily practice schedule with clear cut goals you’ll make some amazing progress and be a much happier and confident player.
Don't forget to bookmark this page. It'll be gone by next month!
Play nice and stay tuned,
Toby