Daily Practice for All Levels: Tips and Techniques for Busy Musicians

[@uli9744]

I thought about how to turn practice into a game. Gamblers can't stop playing and the question is how to translate this MUST into your exercises. Now I divide my homework into 20 minute portions. I turn over a sand timer and practice until the hour glass runs out (20 minutes) For each exercise session I put a card in a box. For example, I practice 10 cards scales. By accumulating the cards, practice has become a game and it's fun to have a lot of cards at the end. With the exercise units lasting 20 minutes each, it is always clearly defined what exactly is being practiced. Regards from Germany Uli

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!!

[@tenorref]

Pomodoros! Just 20 min instead of 25. It works for you. Success, my friend.

[@Mauriciojbass]

Thank you for the excellent class. I often get tired of studying fundamentals, tuning and when it comes to creative processes, I'm already exhausted.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@Mauriciojbass thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@jameswasil8961]

Your list blew me away. I love the way that you play, how generous you are in explaining things, how much you love the bass, and how much you want to improve others playing. Thanks so much! I've been playing since 1966, that's one year of experience 58 times. But for most of those years that was fine because I was having fun. Recently my wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and I was told that I needed to do something for myself, so I've tried to step up my game. So my list includes thinks like"learn how to bow with the German how, learn major and minor chords, etc. Pretty embarrassing! Btw in high school I was second chair bass and married the first chair bass player! Thanks again for being there for us!!!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching. My very best to you, your wife, and family!

[@damirabdic]

Awesome content! So refreshing to find a video about actual bass playing and practicing, instead of gear demoing. Thanks for sharing.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad you liked it! And thank you for watching

[@laurajones5959]

This was fantastic. Thank you.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brynnbass]

Such great advice! I can always use a reminder to let go of analyzing perfect practice and just hit the shed! "Getting off the information treadmill", as the folks at Open Studio put it. I've spent weeks obsessing over the perfect way to practice, all while getting very little work done in the shed. Upon reflection, I find that my efforts to be over-prescriptive have caused burnout. I like the idea of breaking things into larger categories with options like you mentioned at the ten-minute mark or so. It fosters a good balance between having goals and not overdoing it like I was for so long. Thanks for reading my rambly, unedited thoughts, lol.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching and for the comment. I have ABSOLUTLEY experienced exactly what you’re describing, so I’m very empathetic. It’s a constant struggle for me because I’m actually *procrastinating* by trying to make the “perfect” plan!

[@brynnbass]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki Glad to hear I'm not alone! It's a super deadly form of procrastination, I feel, because I trick myself into thinking I'm actually getting something done. There were some weeks I spent more time in Google Docs creating a practice plan than I did playing my instrument!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Yep exactly. You summed it up Perfectly

[@jimmymasters8485]

This is outstanding. After all these years I still struggle with this. Thanks.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you as always Jimmy!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Also, you can do it!

[@dominic8706]

Thank you so much for your video and inspiration always, I hope someday, I take your lesson in real life to share your words!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you for watching!

[@pl566]

This is such a great video! I've watched it probably 4 times. Great information, very motivating for me. Expertly produced! Thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@@pl566 thank you for your kind words and for watching!

[@jazzbrew68]

Excellent guidance Matt as usual. I like how we flipped our list to reveal the items we should work on. We had a chat via email about practice routine and you really helped me bring focus to what I am working on. My broad goals were brought more into focus (specific exercises/tasks) and I'm starting to see benefits from that. Thank you!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Awesome Eric!!

[@allihaywood8561]

This was really helpful - thank you! And positive. I'm learning orchestral bass, but also want to learn jazz and other styles. I get frustrated when I sound or play badly, and that can end my practice session. I think that's why we like to play stuff we can, and maybe not always a bad thing..?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad it was helpful and I totally hear you on the frustration. I agree if there’s time in your schedule to play stuff that makes you feel good that can certainly be a nice extra!

[@asfasdfadf9820]

Heyyyyy, just put this video on because I love these videos, I don’t even play bass, then all of a sudden, boom I hear a bunch of advice that I needed to hear about how to practice! Thank you, sir!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad you like them! Thanks for putting it on , even in the background

[@joshmcdzz6925]

This is a video I've got to share with all my friends who've gotten so busy with their career like me but really we've no excuse to give at least 30mins to practicing everyday.. Thank you so much for the motivation...

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching and please do share!

[@patrickmckain5910]

Fantastic advice on daily practice. I do have a passion for the bass but i lack guidance. Too much information could be mind blowing. As Ron said Find a Teacher period. Basically i am self taught and sometimes my journey seems very frustrating but my love for the bass and music just keep me going 🙏

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

It sure can be frustrating you’re so right. Hope you can find a teacher soon?

[@grantrobertdavies]

Great Video Matt :) Yeah always a tonne of stuff to practice LOL :) I do honesty find it very daunting... I've always found getting up early and doing my practice session in the early morning helps me "Get It Out The Way" in a good way!... I'm very visual too and writing down a plan really does help... Cool video man :)

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching and your kind words. I agree with everything including the morning for me too!

[@nahuelgale282]

Great advices as always!!! Thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you for watching!

[@sebastiankip]

Great video as always! Not only for bassists but all musicians! Good talk!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

My man!

[@daveybutlerbjj]

Really appreciate this video, incredible tips you are sharing with us. I will definitely apply this to everything I do with music. I gotta say, as a beginner, that sample practice routine you had on the screen at 10:00 was really eye opening. Helped me realize what I could be doing with scales too... and I might buy a whiteboard 🤣 I think a video on all the stuff you use scales to work on could be cool, all on the "technique" side of practice. I was curious when you mentioned the 4 hours a day minimum thing when you were in college, did that include "musicianship" stuff like ear training, transcribing, and all that? Or was it strictly time on the instrument? Thanks again for the video, I learned about your channel from listening to that double bass conversations episode you did.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for your comment and welcome! I’m glad the video was inspirational in some way, and all the stuff you mentioned I know that you’ll succeed at doing! Go for it you can do it! The practice hours - for me and those I know it was 4 hours min on instrument. Other stuff tended to be connected to assignments etc. Transcribing with instrument though was probably in that big chunk. I would make a distinction between that and say, ear training off of the instrument. If that makes sense

[@arniemacdonald4289]

Thanks Matt. Very helpful to me as I have been in a bit of a slump and am also turning a page to where I hopefully will have more free time.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

You can do it Arnie!!

[@arniemacdonald4289]

Thanks! Would you consider sharing that practice chart you have? I have been charting mine since switching teachers, and it is informative, but I think there are some ideas in your approach that I might try to steal if I get a better look. Still a long way from8 hours/day.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@arniemacdonald4289 of course! Give me a little time to set it up / I gotta find the original files

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@@arniemacdonald4289 Hey again I sent you a direct email

[@jesses4098]

Love this! 🎉

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks a million!

[@MrDanilop45]

Thank you 🙏🏻.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you!

[@vondoktor]

Whoa...I cannot write a list of more than 2 or 3 things I like about my playing... and then I jump immediately at #9 ot 10...🤔

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

I hear you - really! The idea can still apply to a smaller or bigger list. Thanks for watching!