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How I Tac
1. How many days a week do you play?
I usually play every day. I always seem to find the time to get in at least 30 minutes. It’s important that I keep that up because if I skip a day or two, I’ve found that my playing really suffers. People who listen to me play might not notice it, but I know it, I can feel it. And if I don’t play every day, I kind of miss the cathartic release.
2. What time of day do I usually play?
I try to play in the morning between 8 and 9 o’clock. I try to play again in the afternoon after lunch. Sometimes it’s not possible to play twice a day, but I at least get to play once a day. I would like to be a little more consistent with this, but sometimes it’s just not possible.
3. Where do I play?
We have a spare bedroom that doubles as a music room. It’s away from the common areas, so I have some privacy, and I don’t bother anyone. It’s my little sanctuary in our house.
4. What was my guitar life like before I had a routine, and How has implementing a consistent guitar routine changed helped me?
Before implementing a consistent routine, my guitar playing was ragged, and my progress felt stunted. This lead to frustration and playing just wasn’t as much fun. Since implementing a scheduled practice plan, I reached some of the the success that I had hoped for when I first picked up the instrument. Specifically:
A) TAC has given me confidence. I feel like I can learn to play anything with practice and patience.
B) TAC has giving me structure. It’s helped me decide what to practice in order to achieve my musical goals.
C) I have learned new skills. The practice regimen forced me out of my comfort zone while learning these new skills. This, more than anything , has helped me grow as a musician.
D) I have learned about space. I don’t have to fill every moment while I’m playing with sound. I’ve learned to slow it down, and let the music breathe.
E) Finally, this experience has given me a different way at looking at playing guitar. I feel like I’m a part of something bigger, so I’m always thinking about playing guitar, improving, enjoying life, and just immersing myself in music.
5. What is one non-music item that I must have in my guitar routine?
I would say the most important non-music item that is a must for me is my journal. I write about playing, I write about my intentions, I write down fragments of poetry that have the potential to maybe be songs, I write down how The session went. It’s just a way for me to reflect on what’s going on and what I’m feeling. It helps me mark progress, and it’s helped me understand what I need to work on. It helps me be real with myself.
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2 Replies
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I love the cat bombing your picture 😻 What you wrote about creating space and letting the music breathe is beautiful. I sometimes get so caught up focusing on the technique that I forget to enjoy the beautiful music. Journaling sounds like a wonderful idea; I might steal that one 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for the lovely comment. Feel free to steal or borrow anything form me. If it helps you, it’s yours.
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