I just spent 1/2 hour reading through the "Arrangers vs. SMF" thread. When I realized there was a 2nd page, I decided to call it quits and post this question.

How much time do you spend practicing your instrument and related activities (arranging, finger dexterity exercises, meandering through the bells & whistles of your keyboard, researching, thinking up new entertaining ideas, new songs to play, studying different dance styles, things like challenging yourself playing the same song in different keys to develop “faking” skills, playing the same song but in 20 different variations, etc, etc, etc)?

I wish I had more time to get involved in the conversations here....you all write good stuff. But I spend 3-5 hours a day in studying music and practicing. Then there's food shopping, getting your oil changed, stop at the bank, the post office, return your library books, fight traffic, fight more traffic, eventually SIT in traffic for hours! And with any luck at all, I might have time next week to go try that G-70 I finally located 80 miles away.

I'm real curious how much practicing you guys do and what it consists of ‘cause there’s only 24 hours in a day? I can’t even READ as much as you WRITE!

Lucky,

Good topic/question. I've come to the conclusion long ago that many here spend more time posting than actually playing their keyboard, and admit that I too at one time, fell into this group. Ok, back to your question regarding practice.

I started out playing piano when I was 4, so spent many years practicing scales, classical repetoire, and then in high school/college, jazz repetoire and jazz scales, chord progressions, chord voicings, etc. Following that, developing and mastering a core repetoire of song material. Now, I admit I rarely practice for practice sake anymore, but instead get my practice by regularly adding new song material to my show (audience requests etc) to keep things fresh. I still run scales on the piano now and again, but for better (or worse) have lost whatever trad pianistic chops I had because of my laziness in that dept. On the other hand, I've improved other keyboard skills on the arranger by simply playing (on the job) including RH soloing improvisational abilities and mastering LH chord voice leading techniques combined with LH bass line playing uniquely applicable for arranger style playing (with vocals) providing a marketable skill strictly piano playing alone can't provide.

Everytime I learn a new song, I try to listen to as many DIFFERENT renditions of the song (by different artists) I can get my hands on, and apply some of these ideas to my arranger playing. ONE arranger kb standout is the opportunity it offers to become proficient playing in a VAST range of styles, and which allows you to easily try out new style approaches to standard popular repetoire to make a song uniquely your own. Ok. Look forward to hearing how others are practicing & expanding their musical chops with their arrangers now.

Scott

I, like Scott, consider my practice time in working on new material. I play soooo much that it has made me a better player - period. Going on to new heights, as far as theory, reading, etc - not as much as I should.

One hour of practice seven days a week, and an average of one 3 hour job a day. This is for keyboards. Also do one hour on a variety of stringed instruments, which I also play on the one job a day.

wish I had more time...


R.

PRACTICE? - don't need no stinkin' practice. Isn't that what doctors do?
I only practice when I am learning and setting up a new keyboard, or learning a new song.
It probably shows in my playing As you say, there are only so many hours in the day, and I must decide between fishing and golf then get to the job on time.
DonM

When I'm not sailing, I'm usually working (playing music or writing magazine articles). I usually get to sail at least one day a week. On days when I cannot go sailing, which is much of the winter, the free days are spent working on new songs, which I guess can be considered practice. During the past decade I've tried to learn at least one new song every week. Over the years that amounts to lots of new songs, all of which are used regularly. When I'm not working on a new song, I'm exploring the inner workings of my equipment and ways to make it sound better, I guess the answer to your question is, at least for me, is one day a week, every week of the year.

Good question,

Gary

"PRACTICE? Wass that???"

I don't fish or golf but I'm in the Don M. group. I didn't have much of a musical education and never developed the discipline needed to sit and practice scales and exercise, and I know it shows. That along with an A.D.D. problem that follows me even into my old age. But! I think about it all the time and I design practice regimens – but I don’t execute ‘em.
Wow, now I’m getting guilt pangs – I’ll start practicing tomorrow … I start with …
Ciao,
Jerry

I've tried it. Not a replacement for 'physical' practice, but in conjunction with, this is really a beneficial way of practicing:

Enhancing Your Music Performance Abilities Thru MENTAL Practice

Scott

Put your arranger in front of your computer monitor, put the nearfields to the sides, put the computer keyboard underneath, and all of a sudden you can play, practice AND post here, all at the same time!

Today's word is 'multitasking'...

Personally, I don't like the word 'practice'. I just like the word 'play'! Refuse to be content with doing the same things over and over again, and ANY time spent on the keyboard is productive, whether you are doing an exercise, working on sounds or styles or arrangements of new tunes. Let your creativity out to play, and you never THINK you are practicing, even when you are!