Practice Break

terryd913 · #1 09-10-2021, 11:28 AM

Is it a good idea to take a break from playing/practice every so often? I’m in a slump.

Thanks.

Terryd

rick-slo · #2 09-10-2021, 11:42 AM

If practice feels more like drudgery than somewhat useful and satisfying then taking a break may be good for the state of ones mental health.

rmp · #3 09-10-2021, 11:47 AM

if you are asking the question then.. maybe..

nothing wrong with taking some down time.

JERZEY · #4 09-13-2021, 05:35 AM

If its not enjoyable dont do it.

rllink · #5 09-13-2021, 08:18 AM

I'm going to say that I took a little break one time and it lasted forty years. Now if I start feeling overwhelmed I don't take a break, I just slack off. I play for a half hour instead of an hour and a half. I go over stuff I've already learned, relearn stuff I've forgot and play songs that I already know. But I don't take more than a few days where I don't pick it up and play something. I can't afford another long lay off like the last one.

Mr. Jelly · #6 09-13-2021, 08:47 AM

Yes. Often. Always keep in touch with why you play guitar. Play "other stuff" that's easy or fun and experiement.

brad4d8 · #7 09-13-2021, 09:01 AM

Violin virtuoso and educator Yehudi Menuhin recommended at least one day a week break from practicing and a complete vacation of a week or two every year. He said that when you went back to practicing, you will have lost little in technique, but would probably look at things with a fresh eye.

Draft Guitar · #8 09-13-2021, 09:40 AM

One thing that has worked for me is to make some sort of change. Two things that worked particularly well were playing in a different location in my house for about a week or so, and playing outside for a few days. The changes may seem subtle, but the differences in sound and feel have given me inspiration and focus which got me through a "slump."

You might also try working on fingerstyle if you are a pick player (or vice-versa), playing with a capo if you normally don't, or just taking a few days to work on a new song or style.

archerscreek · #9 09-13-2021, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad4d8

Violin virtuoso and educator Yehudi Menuhin recommended at least one day a week break from practicing and a complete vacation of a week or two every year. He said that when you went back to practicing, you will have lost little in technique, but would probably look at things with a fresh eye.

Multiple Grammy winner and all time mandolin great Chris Thile definitely doesn’t subscribe to that notion. He said if he only played or practiced two hours a day he would regress. And I’ve read multiple other statements from pro musicians such as Zakk Wylde that said there was no way they could skip a day without playing. And I can’t recall the name, but I do remember reading a quote from a classical artist that essentially said if he missed a day of practice, he could tell. If he missed two days of practice his audience could tell.

But obviously people are different in many ways; time, goals, where they are in life, and where they are in their musical journey included.

JERZEY · #10 09-22-2021, 09:58 AM

When it becomes work put it down!

ljguitar · #11 09-22-2021, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryd913

Is it a good idea to take a break from playing/practice every so often? I’m in a slump.

Thanks.

Terryd

Hi terryd…

Yes, it is. Even on a day-to-day basis. I have always played about 30-40 minutes, and then I take a break. Now that I'm retired, that means till a different part of the day.

If I'm learning songs for our Worship Team then I'll do one 'practice' session which is just listening, and another playing along with the recording, and a third session to just play through intros, endings, transitions etc.

When I taught, I encouraged students to practice a couple segments of the lesson then take a break and come back for other parts later. They learned more quickly and didn't tend to burn out.

TBman · #12 09-22-2021, 04:08 PM

I'll take a day or two off every week. Every once in a while I'll go three days without playing, but that usually follows a few days of heavy playing and my hands are resting up. I'm 66 and I do need a nap now and then

jklotz · #13 09-22-2021, 05:22 PM

It really depends on what you goal is I think. If you want to go head to head with Tommy Emmanuel or be a first call Nashville studio pro, it's probably best to not be taking many breaks. For the average home player, sure, take some breaks. Keep it fun.

Cecil6243 · #14 09-23-2021, 12:49 PM

I have some days where I don't want to pick up my guitar and practice or learn new stuff for a couple of hours a day like I usually do. But if I just get myself to pick up the guitar and make sure it's in tune I start feeling more motivated and sometimes I go on for more than a couple of hours. I don't even take breaks during that time hardly at all. Maybe I should but I don't.