Skip to main content

Practicing Archives - Page 13

Intentional Practice
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Intentional Practice

Too many instrumentalists begin their daily practice session without knowing specifically what they wish to accomplish that day. If they think about their practice goals at all, they do so in a cursory, vague and last minute manner. Even worse, some serious students think the goal of practice is simply to “put in the time.” They may spend several hours...

Muscle Memory
Ask Damian Erskine

Muscle Memory

Q: I keep hearing bassists talk about muscle memory. What is that? A: Good question! And one that can open up a bigger discussion on the purpose of daily practice. First, let’s look at the Wikipedia definition of muscle memory, which is a good one: “Muscle memory has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural...

The Purpose of Practice
Ask Damian Erskine

The Purpose of Practice

Q: Hi Damian, a few weeks back I started doubting the “purpose” of practice, due to the fact that if you practice a specific tune, or any give exercise, its only for a short period of time (couple of months or so) and then it goes to the back of your head. How can I make my practice more “permanent”...

A Guide for the Self-Taught Bassist
Ask Damian Erskine

A Guide for the Self-Taught Bassist

Q: I’m in the middle of high-school, and I’m really thinking of pursuing bass as a career. However, with a lack of decent teachers around, I’ve turned to teaching myself. But there’s so much to cover… where do I start? A: I would first suggest that you continue to keep your eyes and ears open for a good teacher. It’s...

Mindfully Mindless Practice
Ask Damian Erskine

Mindfully Mindless Practice

Q: I’ve heard some people talk about practicing while watching TV, and I’ve heard others warn against it. What’s your take? A: Actually, I’m a huge fan of certain types of practice while watching movies and television. As I’ve mentioned in earlier columns, certain things are only really mastered through repetition (licks and patterns, internalizing scale or chord shapes, and...

Mental Practice
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Mental Practice

We all have strategies on how to practice when time is short. There are times, however, when even a short practice session is not feasible. In times such as this, mental practice can be a valuable tool. Mental practice is also valuable as a regular part of your sessions. For such practice to be valuable, your visualizations will need to...

Jazz Bass Improvisation
Sheet Music & Instruction

Jazz Bass Improvisation

Musicians Institute has released Jazz Bass Improvisation, written by jazz bassist Putter Smith. The book offers approaches to chords, scales, arpeggios through detailed practice routines and techniques to help advance practical techniques, improvisation concepts, jazz theory, chord studies and scale patterns. The method is suitable for both electric and upright players. The book ships with a companion CD, featuring 34...

Balancing Music School and Practicing
Ask Damian Erskine

Balancing Music School and Practicing

Q: I am a music student at a music conservatory, and I just had a year off for practice and teaching. Now I’m back to finish the last two years of my music education, and I’ve just received my lesson plan for the next 12 months. I have four lessons a day Monday and Wednesday. I know if you want...

Working with Drones – Introduction: Improving Intonation
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Working with Drones – Introduction: Improving Intonation

One of the best ways I know to increase one’s intonational precision is to play against a held drone note. It is excellent not only for left hand finger spacing, shifting, but also for improving one’s aural pitch discrimination. You can create your own drone note using a looper, midi program, etc. or your metronome or tuner may have the...

Competitive Nature
Ask Damian Erskine

Competitive Nature

Q: I am a very young bassist who plays in a band with some other young musicians. I’m having an issue with respect and competitiveness. Most of my bandmates say I’m the best musician among them. Our guitarist assumes he’s the best musician in the band, though his knowledge of theory isn’t there. How do I get him to listen...

Practice Your Scales… But Which Ones?
Ask Damian Erskine

Practice Your Scales… But Which Ones?

Q: Scales… everyone should practice scales. But which scales? For someone that’s beginning to play or even some that has been playing for a long time, this can be a dilemma. How do you practice them? How do you implement them in your playing? A: Great question. Of course, everyone should know their: 1. Major scales 2. Minor scales …as...

Developing Stamina
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Developing Stamina

I have trouble with stamina, especially when playing difficult music. How do you develop stamina? – John H. Developing stamina can be a real challenge on an instrument as large and as physically demanding as the upright bass. If developing stamina is a goal you need to achieve, I would suggest focusing on the following items as you begin your...