Scott Tennant's Practicing Philosophy

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Scott Tennant discusses his philosophy regarding practicing guitar. He calls practicing problem-solving and describes how it differentiates from just playing the guitar. He shares his approach to a daily routine, pre-performance rituals, the importance of goal setting, and how he finds fulfillment in playing music.
0:06 - Daily routine with the guitar
5:00 - Balancing technique and repertoire practice
5:59 - Pre-performance routine
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[@JustAGuitarPlayer]

It’s 5am and I’ve been up all night and I’m so happy to have run across this KZbin channel and this video. I went to music school with Scott at USC. I was a studio guitar major during the same years he was a classical guitar major. Scott was just one of those very special, extremely talented, hard working, very kind, brilliant people that I feel lucky to have crossed paths with in this life. What he is recommending here is truly great advice. My practice time hasn’t always been productive as I’d like it to be as it’s often been too easy to just play guitar instead of problem solve like he’s recommending here. Anyway so nice to see and hear him verbalize this very intelligent approach to guitar practice. Scott if you happen to read this ever, I hope you’re doing well, I wish you the best always, MP.

[@AlexTalksTwo]

How does this not have more views? This advice is applicable to so many things besides just music.

[@guitarista666]

Speaking to Scott's advice applying to areas other than guitar, when learning tennis, I always approached practice with a problem solving attitude. It worked extremely well. I got consistent, very good results.

[@BernieHollandMusic]

You are right ! It can be applied to virtually anything in life ! He is a very wise person.

[@MusicMotivator]

The whole approach in one of my books in case you might be interested.

[@MikeFowlerguitars]

Practicing.... Is problem solving. Nailed it. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@elisehermansguitar]

"don't mix practise with playing". That is excellent, thank you Scott Tennant, I needed to hear that today!

[@Sifu93]

"Practice is problem solving" holds so much truth. I differ between "practice" and "rehearsing", the difference being that the latter is playing what you already can play. Which is fun but it is also sort of your personal comfort zone. Real practice is just as much a mental challenge as it is about improving your mechanical skills. It is a constant trial and error, similiar to when we first learned to walk as a child. You fail, try again, fail try again, fail, try again etc. Until you eventually get it. A guy called Eriksson called this the matter of "purposeful" practice that separates the skilled ones from the really skilled ones, those we still talk about today. For the purpose of achieving mastery you commit yourself to this long and demanding process of only playing what you CANT play yet. And this is pretty much the secret sauce of progress, so obvious that we keep forgetting it, especially because we learn from an early age that failing in pretty much any way in life is something bad instead of the natural part of learning and evolving. So kudos to you Mister Tennant, well said and I wish everyone all the best with their personal journey!

[@bryanadamik6839]

I have a load of classical guitar books, including Scott's Pumping Nylon. It is my favorite music book, including all the commentaries on all of the different exercises in it, including the arpeggio studies and flamenco. All the three volumes of Pumping Nylon are impressive, especially volume one. I'm still enjoying them very much after 12 years. Thank you Scott!

[@brandonwoodson2861]

I didn't know that was his book, wow

[@alfredotoledo7213]

Por favooooor! Traducir al Español en Sudamérica somos fanaticos de Scott.

[@scottconnuck3406]

Sir... I love, love, love your approach to practice as problem solving. I wish I would have learned this approach as a young student of guitar! Back then, I got by purely by talent. I would merely mindlessly play through pieces without focus and objectives. Surprising that this approach had gotten me through undergrad school (Boston Conservatory) and even graduate school (Florida State) as a guitar performance major. Now, I am taking up the instrument once again... the difference is that this time I'm practicing with laser focus and have adopted a problem solving approach. After only a couple months, I've made what can only be considered astounding progress after a hiatus of nearly 40 years, due to my approach to playing. Thank you so much for your sage advice.

[@gordyhydro5774]

I gave up 40 years ago marriage and kids life in general. I reached a certain standard and never progressed. I'm 62 now picked up the guitar and wow. I focused on practising not playing. I play Lagrima and some gulianni studies to see if I have progressed at the end of each week. I boy does it seem to work. Let's hope I have many years left to play this beautiful instrument. God bless.

[@savagetofu1]

I find it interesting, that Scott's practice switch (on the side of his head) is "on" (up switch) & his play switch is "off". (down switch) 5:33

[@jjson775]

Scott is a brilliant guy

[@lawcch]

just be happy if you going to perform on the stage. Also you share the music we loved with audiences.

[@That52TeleGuy]

Profoundly said. With age comes wisdom. I find myself at an older age trying harder and not giving up as easy. I will now focus on a passage to get it to flow better. Not being a professional musician means I need to commit to playing time as there will always be other things to do. Guitar is still my Joy.

[@nikolapetricevic]

What an amazing interview! I strongly resonated with these ideas, as I'm searching for that type of practice-play balance. At first I thought he was just gonna talk about practice but when he mentioned the importance of play, I lit up. It is also very refreshing to hear someone be so honest about their insecurities, and just overall be real about stuff. 10/10

[@martinvergara1]

Gracias mr Scott. Sabiduria y generosidad. Sus consejos y conceptos me ayudan mucho y ayudan a "expertos" y a principiantes. Los textos de pumping nylon son un tesoro

[@mattbod]

Scott’s Pumping Nylon is a classic and a must have for everyone learning classical guitar. His explanations and advice are always easy to understand and really help you.

[@zaenkmus]

Great advice. Such a warm and eloquent way of conveying lessons from his own life experience.

[@Darrenowsley]

Scott this is the best advice for all guitarists to learn how to practice to play well.

[@lucarinaldovillani63]

Empathic and profound suggestions, Maestro Tennant. Hope to see You in Italy, best wishes and thanks

[@JakeMaltoGuitarist]

I read your book Pumping Nylon it helped me a lot to recheck my problem technique. The details was extremely specific

[@MrWolfheart111]

Thanks man....

[@michelledelen452]

Thanks so much for sharing with us, so much insight...

[@graysenhagin]

Love it, thanks for the advice 🙏

[@tasosdiaforetico7377]

Great stuff scott

[@matheusaraujo6862]

Beautiful Interview, Scott. Thank you for sharing this thoughts.

[@gtrmusic69]

That was really excellent. Good words Scott. Thanks

[@OscarGhgilia]

I love your approach! You’re Great!

[@kengrier3192]

Thank you Scott, l really appreciate you and your lessons on Tonebase.

[@olverager]

Thank you, Maestro!

[@nonretrogradable]

Invaluable. Incredible advice.

[@paulmadryga]

Brilliant insights - thanks for posting.

[@Guitarlifebyjohn]

Great interview with great advice! 🙏 Hope to hear Scott in Sweden in the near future 🎶🎵🎶

[@reinosteelframe9848]

Gracias Scott!!👏👏👏

[@BernieHollandMusic]

Excellent advice from Scott - a wonderful admixture of common-sense and compassion - thank you for sharing this xxx

[@johanblume2621]

Great tips from Scott. I really like his outlook.

[@michaeljacobs3418]

Clear, insightful and uncomplicated. Great video.

[@funnysecksnumber6998]

bassist here, its barely been a year since i started playing. and my appetite for learning more is so heavy, i ran out of useful bass videos. so im here to see what i can pick up from you guys lmao. i figured hey, i think i actually love classical acoustic styles with lots of slurry notes too. (normally i like alternative/progressive) damn. most things i actually want to play on my bass is hard.

[@aaronseilaff7479]

I found this to be so profoundly relatable, thank you for the great advice

[@hannah51238]

This is incredible advice, thank you!

[@AmaranathRanatunga]

Thank you for your video. It's Fine.

[@SonatasysInc]

Thank you

[@michaelemmanuel9191]

Really great advice for anyone in music. Thanks, Scott. You are really such a beautiful man.

[@virtuosodm3327]

Scott is definitely one of the most insightful musicians I've encountered, this kind of "information, insight,keeping it real,lol," is so valuable for all of us to discipline ourselves to do,Such a great Sensei 🙏

[@gonzalollache7306]

Pure wisdom

[@hughgurney3022]

Yes, I like to play thro books, and you are right, technical issues need to be addressed separately.

[@vanguard4065]

John Coltrane practiced constantly. before and after shows gigs he simply always had his instrument nearby at all times

[@TheKeyToMusicOfficial]

a goal, focused problem solving, meditation. this is critical thought in practice.

[@savagetofu1]

good

[@ericphillips7057]

This all makes complete sense, but it is mostly directed toward performing professionals, or aspiring professionals. As an amateur who rarely performs for others, I love that I don't have to have this level of discipline. If I only have 20 minutes to play, and I spend it doing some exercise, I hate it. It feels like wasted time, that I could have spent playing and enjoying actual music.

[@AlanMcCarthyguitar]

Wise man . What’s the tune in background??I know it but can’t think of the name !

[@stone1528]

The frog galliard John dowland

[@jeremydoody]

Play music you like..... 🤔 What a concept

[@bossanovaboy]

Very truthful advices! Also when you warm up before a performance never play a number from the program!

[@vanguard4065]

there is no tomorrow

[@oriventura]

These are just words of wisodm, especially when he talks about performing.

[@hayesdabney]

South Detroit philosophy.

[@kevinpeat3721]

I'm sure the Pumping Nylon book is good only I couldn't get from first base and the video to it was NO help whatsoever. I bet only a few owners of the book actually use it.

[@mi2cents265]

I have no doubt this man is an excellent player. But his books,imo, are a bit overwhelming for newer players-it doesn't need to be. Mr. Tennant needs to simplify the art of memorizing and playing the basic notes on the fretboard. He hasn't. Am a novice player, but the simple things I practice that help me read and play across the whole fretboard are not anywhere included in Mr Tennant books. Maybe his way of learning is not like we, the average folks, do it.