Musicians Beware: The Dangers of the Shed

There are some dangers for musicians in the woodshed (practice room). Over practicing can lead to injury, elitism, and burnout. But sustainable practicing leads to a lifetime of enjoying music. In this video, we talk about how to safely and sustainably improve at music over time. We do this by hearing the advice from four wise musicians.
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[@Bread99]

"The world doesn't need more monsters." YES! Exactly what I needed to hear. Great advice. Great video. Thanks for making this for us.

[@Mike-rw2nh]

Thanks for this uplifting upload. I’ve been studying music since I was 3 yrs old. I will be 49 in a few days time. I have never wanted a formal education in music, having chosen the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle afforded by an education in pure mathematics, but for the past 46 years it has been like an oasis of calm, running in the background all day, every day. Forever the padawan, never the master. Stellar content, good sir. 🫡

[@lancelothogben1297]

Someone I know once had a successful music career as a young person and then decided to play jazz. Very soon he abandoned electric guitar for piano, took a degree in composition, studying all styles of classical music and jazz, apparently mastered all of them woodshedding for the last 40+ years. But none of us have heard a note of his music in all this time. I suppose Heaven will be the place where we can hear all the fruits of his solo labors for my entire adult life, but not this world.

[@dchauser4]

While it may not hit the algorithm hard, please know it's appreciate. Having a plan and focusing on what you want out of your time in the shed is so important.

[@SpooksHD]

This video is unbelievably great and I'm glad that a lot of the concepts I've come across on my own are covered extensively; I really hope this video explodes so that more people can see this and understand these ideas, or at least put words to something they may already know. The shed is absolutely dangerous for your mental AND physical health if you go into it with a mindset that isn't improving/learning; if you go in expecting to match something exactly, you'll end up destroying yourself on the way there. I started playing piano in May of 2022 when I was 19, I had absolutely no musical experience prior (even throughout High School), so I was going in completely blind. I started by getting to know my chosen instrument: playing random chords, trying stuff like full chord shapes in both hands, different rhythms/styles, anything that I could to get an intuitive sense of the keyboard itself. Then in late 2022 I came across a KZbinr "Devin Lawrence", who has top down videos of the piano parts of songs, a lot of those being from my favorite band: "The Beach Boys". I started with "California Girls", then "Wouldn't It Be Nice", then "God Only Knows"; each ramped up in difficulty and introduced me to different ideas and ways of playing. In between those I would compose songs, introducing things I had picked up from the pieces I was learning and attempting to master, and sometimes those compositions were more ambitious or difficult than the pieces I was currently learning. I couldn't possibly express how much he accelerated my learning process because of the content he made available for FREE. I was doing it out of the joy for the instrument and out of the joy for learning. I was most definitely in the shed, with nobody I could share my journey with or let personally influence my own. Was I hard on myself at times? Absolutely, extremely hard, and sometimes that's ok as long as you are able to temper that and come back when you may be able to do better; but, it's when you prolong that hardship that it becomes damaging. It's just like a muscle, working it and getting it sore is ok - that's growth - but overworking it to the point you stretch something too far is not. I then got into Bass guitar to ease my transition into Guitar, and I did the same process as I did with piano. I learned the walking line from "Surfin' Safari" by The Beach Boys which was simple, then I learned the more complex lead line from "Dance, Dance, Dance" which was a great fast line to improve my hand movement. I then learned "Good Vibrations" which was a great introduction to Jazz bass lines and had me doing large octave jumps and large hand movements. But more important than that, was improvisation and being able to adapt to what you're hearing; and what Chad had to say was exactly spot on. If you play along to your favorite songs, and try to add to them or improvise with them, you are already improving. Then when you start going outside of what you typically listen to, and try to play along with different genres, that's where you really start to hone your specific craft; that specifically, helped me a lot in understanding where I should be going to and predicting the next set of notes. Just like anything, if you don't go in with love, it'll break you down because you're trying to reach something out of ingenuity. But, if you go into the shed out of the love of what you're doing and with the mindset of improvement, you'll come out significantly sharper than you did going in.

[@reallifeinbalance8842]

i think changing the outlook from comparison to inspiration really helps 😁, i just brought my first bass after a 20year break, i loved it as a teenager but only took a few lessons (they were group based) and lost all inspiration with this exact mindset, when someone in the would do something better than me. so i sold my bass and moved on, now I'm actively looking for these videos of people (much like yourself) to inspire my playing and motivate me to learn the instrument. thanks for sharing this... I think I need to look into "a shed situation" now with all of these things in mind. Thanks again.

[@JohnHunt_]

Thank you for this! I always appreciate when great musicians share this kind of advice.

[@AndoCalriss]

Many times, woodshed sessions for me end up feeling like the movie Whiplash. Being super hard on myself, no grace for mistakes, etc. But I know better, and you’ve reaffirmed the power of practicing with positivity, focus and patience. Julian Lage also had some wonderful advice on this topic at a recent show. Thanks Philip! Great video.

[@michaelanthony9068]

THIS IS THE GREATEST DOSE OF WISDOM IVE SEEN/HEARD IN YEARS !!! Thank you bass brother !

[@msmknz]

This is GREAT. Sharing wisdom instead of hoarding it is the antithesis of gatekeeping and we're all better for it so tytyty to the musicians that contributed to this 🫶

[@hotrodjones74]

This was a great video. I'm planning to take some time in shed and master what I've been learning in my guitar lessons. I had the privilege to make an Indy rock album, recorded at home with some friends a few years ago. It was far from perfect but it was genuine and authentic. Going to the shed will help me make more music and do it better than before, allowing me to play the things I feel and hear in my head. When listening to your own recordings it's bets to use constructive criticism; using positive and corrective feedback. The main thing is to keep the joy for the music, express yourself and play/share with others when you can.

[@panamathrill4425]

Just what I needed to listen to before I headed to the shed tonight

[@floofthebassplayer]

Very glad you brought up injury because that's the easy one to overlook. I was victim to this while just grinding super fast 16th notes and ended up tweaking my hand and it started swelling. After some doctors visits that sent me to PT I'm all good now but it definitely changed my perspective on music a lot. It also taught me not to break my body just so I can attempt to sound like Joe Dart 🙃. You live and you learn and now I'm really leaning into my own style instead. I feel like that's healthier for my hands lol. Thanks for sharing Philip.

[@ricardodubatti657]

Man, you have such a wonderful group of friends, their words are so so inspiring. It resonates with a thing my father said to me: A few years ago, I was so upset about my playing that my father saw that I was truly frustrated; I told him that I wasn't getting any better and he said "so? You have your whole life to practice and try new things and try to get better. Then, why hurry?". It also reminds me to some concepts of zen buddhism (well, Suzuki's concept of zen), including the idea of developing a technique (could it be in some kind of art or not) not just to dominate a thing, not to impose your force or your will, but to clear the mind and get a better undestanding of the world that surrounds us. The technique as a medium of being in the world. Thanks!

[@IggyYTube]

That was awesome ... again. Advice like this is golden for all of us. So glad you put this one out.

[@NoizExMachina]

Thank you for taking the time to create this video and the channel in general. The world's a better place for it!

[@tomdanshin4176]

Thanks, Philip! Super inspiring!

[@shugemery]

Very relevant and pivotal video Philip. I was turned onto the book "The Practice of Practice" by Jonathan Harnum. It helped my in my juggling practice but really helps me with my bass practice. Opened my mind as to how I approach it now.

[@stuartholme4457]

Comparison is the thief of joy. (I didn't come up w/ that, it's an old aphorism)

[@bigfootlover]

i needed this!

[@ericdawson8576]

Phenomenal video, I wish I saw this when I was a music student!

[@hiddedelange1470]

Thanks for the video!! Needed this!

[@mk-vn7xk]

the timing of this video is insane! thank you!

[@billyjay1]

Great video !!

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

I have a separate place just for music (My channel is a one-man recording studio of mostly cover songs), but I take long breaks. I once quit playing every instrument for four years. I'm on hiatus from recording right now, have been for over a year. This way it's never work. When I do record, I go eyeballs deep. Then when I don't feel like it anymore, I don't do it anymore. Can't wait for the next channel comeback though, because every iteration of the channel evolves and improves. And right now my videos have gotten really cool already. These long breaks are my secret weapon. They even seem to have a way of breaking my through my plateaus. The best way to overcome a plateau, for me, seems to be time off. The brain plasticity and muscle memory, who knows why, but it works.

[@zeusapollo8688]

Yes

[@romestant]

love this!

[@WhatJeanWants]

Good stuff, Philip!! You and your friends all contributed great advice on self care & the shed!

[@johncook9983]

Good reminders of perspective👍

[@77_Social_Music]

These are the types of videos that need a lot of views. Well done!!

[@dancruz101]

Great video man! Thanks for sharing

[@jaydenanderson53]

Dude this was phenomenal, thank you

[@TheWeekendYogurt]

Luh you brah. This is a wonderful message :)

[@kurth6595]

Great video, I really appreciated this

[@jackmerucci2398]

This is a great video 🤙 thanks for sharing your insight

[@rogertinker1813]

Great advise thanks for sharing, love your channel

[@THEItchybruddah]

GREAT stuff. I’ll be sharing this with my students and colleagues. Much obliged for the checkup from the neck up.

[@tiohunt6788]

I wish this video was made 6 years ago when I first started being a musician lol but I am grateful still for such a video and good advice

[@noir6614]

I love this video I subbed right now please keep making videos like these! Thank you and your buddys

[@Chadman_aye]

Great info here

[@wilhelm9883]

Cool stuff man

[@yetsumari]

Thank you for this video. This topic has been on my mind a lot because I have so many aspirations, and also two children.

[@marcpressley8681]

I really appreciate your takes on a life in music. Thanks, Philip.

[@BobHutchins]

What a powerful video! I’m new to playing music, I’ve only been playing bass since December. My youngest son (already an adult) is even newer to guitar, he’s been playing about a month. This video is so important I shared it with him and when I see him again this weekend, we will discuss it. Thank you for sharing!

[@musahenderson]

Great video. I get so overwhelmed with what and how to practice. My flat mate is so good and I feel pointless but these words helped. Appreciate the effort bro

[@BeatsAndGuitars]

Man great video!! Really encouraging. Makes me wanna give you a hug man…not in any sort of weird way but In solid “thank you I needed that” sort of way! 👊

[@ibalrog]

Excellent video, Philip, and your contributors are impressively perceptive and eloquent - piles of wisdom in here from all of you. To me, this has been a good reminder that the philosophy of practice is just as important as the science of practice.

[@VesselForHonor]

This is a CRAZY GOOD video

[@alexl.9917]

Very touching, these advices lift my heart straight up to heaven, so much truth and experience from good musicians and good humans 😊 Thanks to you and your friends, and yes, music is a language and one of the most awesome experiences anyone can make, so, like Chad said in his advice, isolation is imho also a danger of shedding, talk with other musicians and you'll become more than the sum of every person involved and every listeners. Thanks 😊

[@yydmzkz09]

Amazing advices, thanks for sharing. Definitely felt the burn out previously, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

[@dragostego]

Charlie Parker didn't get a cymbal thrown at his head, it was just kind of dropped like a gong.

[@401Blues]

I have simple Ampeg Pre-amp , Tuner, and Roland Pro-Mixer set up on small pedalboard and Iphone Camera tripod set-up permanently, Makes recording as simple as putting I-phone in place and making a quick video record. Really useful when learning songs.

[@jrpipik]

A great encouraging video. I only wish it had a similarly uplifting title.

[@CountryFenderBass]

😂 Your reaction to the fly was like when my dog, Ugly Betty, sees a squirrel! Instantly distracted. When I started playing I had to figure out what I wanted out of the bass. What I kind of bass player I wanted to be. I decided I wanted to be a “meat and potato” bass player. I want to have impeccable time. I want to be dependable in the pocket. I don’t want to slap. I don’t want to solo. I don’t want to be super fast. Understanding this trimmed my goals way down. Then I trimmed it further by staying with country and southern rock. This helps greatly. My biggest mistake starting was getting a teacher who taught strictly tab. I wasted 3 years and a lot of money. And couldn’t improvise or jam. After 3 years I couldn’t find the G notes on my neck if you paid me. Years ago I corrected that and got me back on track.

[@mooseymoose]

My mind is a toxic and discouraging place these days, don't need a shed for that.

[@musicfromakido]

I wish I had a shed.

[@KarlWinegardner]

I quit practicing a long time ago. At least on what used to be my primary instrument (guitar). Now I’m mixing audio for music. I practice for that and noodle at guitar. What are good strategies to restarting a practice regiment?

[@concon9838]

Hi Karl, Rhett Shull has a great video that might help. It’s titled “I hate practicing guitar (so I don’t)”

[@KarlWinegardner]

@@concon9838 I remember watching that. Thanks for the reminder of its existence.

[@endlessawareness]

Philip, beautiful video. The one thing I would add, the "shed" or "shedding" is not unlike the snake shedding its skin. You exit the shed a different version of yourself then when you entered it. Hopefully for the better but changed nevertheless.

[@lolinonusos225]

❤️

[@DE-GEN-ART]

im a luthier so "woodsheding"has a whole other meaning to me. the shed is were i build guitars, eat saw dust, and breathe lacquer fumes.

[@joannalewis5279]

Expression not competition

[@mil3ston3s]

Please no AI

[@stuartholme4457]

Woodshed is NOT a shed in the woods, lol. It's a shed where firewood is stored.

[@philipconradmusic]

Agreed. Tell AI.

[@CountryFenderBass]

This good ole boy is correct

[@vayabroder729]

Robert Johnson had a similar story. Some said he sold his soul to the devil but I believe he just disappeared and practiced his ass off.

[@Imblakeimblakethatsrght]

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