How much do you practice per week?

[hiracer]

I'm new to the classical guitar. Been practising for a year. Started lessons two weeks ago.

I have no great ambitions to be a performer. I just want to learn to play the instrument to entertain myself, especially when I retire in 12 or 15 years years from now.

I have a son, age 12, who has become a surprisingly accomplished pianiast on 45 minutes a day, starting when he was four. He has completed all the Suzuki books. In fact, during the Christmas season he did his first, paid permformance along side other professional musicians, all adults. If I could play the guitar half a well as he plays the piano, I would be happy.

OTOH, my wife has taken up the cello and practices about 20 - 30 minutes a day. She isn't getting anywhere very fast.

I practice an average of seven to eight hours a week. I know serious students practice much more. Just out of curiosity, I'm interested in finding out how many hours each of you practice on average per week, and how long have you been playing. Thanks.

[Zak]

About 20 hrs a week I'd say. I wish I had time for more - I'm trying to study at Eastman while working on a biology degree at U of Rochester. NO time!

[brian richardson]

2 sessions of 2.5hrs per day.

[Shroomy726]

About 20 hrs a week I'd say. I wish I had time for more - I'm trying to study at Eastman while working on a biology degree at U of Rochester. NO time!

your degree must be pretty easy, because i am a sophomore in college for a major of mechanical engineering and I find NO time at all to practice, maybe 2 hours per week if im lucky. So be grateful that u get 20 per week, thats a lot for someone who is studying. but i guess thats the consequences of studying engineering...

[dap22]

Hey,
I am doing a double-degree currently. Senior in high-school, but finished up my highschool work a year early and am studying at the university of akron. Next year I will be a double-degree student at Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences and Conservatory. My first degree is a BM in classical guitar performance, and my second degree a BA is undecided, yet it will most likely be neuroscience or psychology. I try to practice on average anywhere from 3 to 5 hours each day.

Doug.

-It's not only a question about time (which often seems too hard, if not impossible, to find) but its also a question of how much you love what you are doing and how much you will sacrifice in order to do what you love.

[DWPC]

I too am a one-year novice (pro lessons since early Nov.), fitting guitar into a typical daily schedule with work, chores, etc. I try to practice 90 minutes to 2 hours every evening with concentration on exercises and scales; maybe 30 minutes is on pieces. I also figure the first fifteen minutes is warm-up and not very productive. My teacher says my rate of improvement is far faster than his other adult students who concentrate on playing songs and practice less than an hour per day.

Forget comparing yourself to your son's absorbtion rate...kids' are like sponges when it comes to mind and motor skill learning. We adults need a lot more soaking.

[dap22]

Zak- It is awesome that you are at Rochester/Eastman. GREAT school! Top of the line! Who is your guitar professor there? Are you studying with Nick Goluses or Paul Odette? They are both amazing teachers, as well as amazing players. You are in the right place! I would absolutely love to hear you play!
By any chance, do you know Alex Dean? He is doing his PhD in guitar there right now studying with Paul Odette. His dad worked with my dad, and he was a major figure in convincing me that I wanted to play guitar! He is a great guy, super nice, and a awesome guitar player. Very brilliant man.
I was originally intending to to a biology major, but after taking a psychology class, I realized that studying the brain and personality and human interaction is more fun than studying plants and cells! Well, luckily we have different interests, if not, we would all be competing for the same job! Biology is tough though, but I can't say psych is a walk through the park though. I certainly do find music to be the subject that takes up most time...especially Aural skills/ear training..YIKES!!!

Doug.

[Zak]

Hey Shroomy! Rest assured, a biology degree from the University of Rochester is one of the more intense programs out there :wink:

You engineers....biggest whiners I know. Only two hours a week? Come on....take it out of your sleep schedule, buck up! :D

Doug - I'm currently under the guidance of Prof. Goluses, but he insists that everyone call him "Nick." A really great guy. Have you met him? He's very down to earth, and quite funny. The only professor I know with whom I can cuss about difficult pieces!

Unfortunately, I auditioned in half way through the semester. My situation is a little strange - I'm not pursuing an undergraduate music degree (thought I might consider one for grad school). I'm just interested in learning to play. Anyway, Goluses's schedule was already filled up so I was assigned to one of his grad students - Corey Harvin. Hopefully, I'll be able to study with Goluses next semester.

I don't believe I've met Alex Dean. Is he studying early music? I unfortunately haven't been introduced to Paul Odette either, though I've seen him perform Bach on the lute.

Cheers!

[Travis_Warner]

I usually can eak by an hour or so a day, but I have more credits and more responisiblity this semester. However, I'm learning to manage my time better, so I hope I can get up to 2 hours a day, maybe more...i've been playing for almost a year now...

[Guillermo Rosado]

hiracer:
I do 2 hours per day. On saturdays and sundays I usually practice 4 hours each day.
I´ve been playing for 43 years.
Best regards
Guillermo

[Miguel Angel]

I practice at least an hour a day, do to my job resposabilities, on free days I do up to three hours. :wink:

[guitarplayer12217]

well im young so i get distracted to easily by tv and such so i get around 1 or 2 hours every day. i used to practice as much as i could which was when my fingers started to hurt; about 5 hours.I cant remember how long ive been playing. Ive been a little absent minded lately.

[dap22]

Hey Zak-
Studying with one of Nick Goluses' grad students means that you are in the right hands! Those guys know what they are talking about, and can back it up with excellent playing! I have never met Nick Goluses' but he is a good friend of my guitar professor, Stephen Aron. You may have seen Prof. Aron perform at Eastman before. You are very lucky to have seen Paul Odette play, he is amazing! I have never seen him live, but I am hoping to in the future.
If you happen to come across Alex Dean, tell him I said hello and send him me regards!
Best of luck!

Doug.

[Antigone]

About 3 or 4 hours a day i try my best

[Shroomy726]

Hey Shroomy! Rest assured, a biology degree from the University of Rochester is one of the more intense programs out there :wink:

You engineers....biggest whiners I know. Only two hours a week? Come on....take it out of your sleep schedule, buck up! :D

Doug - I'm currently under the guidance of Prof. Goluses, but he insists that everyone call him "Nick." A really great guy. Have you met him? He's very down to earth, and quite funny. The only professor I know with whom I can cuss about difficult pieces!

Unfortunately, I auditioned in half way through the semester. My situation is a little strange - I'm not pursuing an undergraduate music degree (thought I might consider one for grad school). I'm just interested in learning to play. Anyway, Goluses's schedule was already filled up so I was assigned to one of his grad students - Corey Harvin. Hopefully, I'll be able to study with Goluses next semester.

I don't believe I've met Alex Dean. Is he studying early music? I unfortunately haven't been introduced to Paul Odette either, though I've seen him perform Bach on the lute.

Cheers!

well, my friend ZAK, i really dont know how to take it out of my sleeping hours if i only get about 6 -7 hours every night.... and engineers whiners where do u get that from :?:

[nebula_34]

I try to get in 1 to 2 hours per day - more if I have time, but if you practice effeciently - you can get in a lot in that much time.... and warm up time is definatly productive - cause if you dont have it, practicing will be destructive physically! I'm a senior finishing up a double major in Music and Youth Ministry, married, run a youth group, teach privatly, take lessons, run a chapel team, and have some sort of a social life :) so needless to say - i'm quite happy with 90 minutes to 120 minutes per day. (not like i'm the only one with things to do out there - cudos to everyone balancing life and guitar)

[jcadyguitar]

i have been in the roch area for some time now nich is a great teacher i played for him over the summer i was really nervous and he said hey what are you worried about im a pussy cat i hope to play for him again soon

[Heong Ng]

These days, because of work responsibilities, I only practice 1/2 hour a day. Progress is very slow. Not much improvement in my playing skills.

I remembered 2 years back, I practiced 6 hours during the Easter holidays. When I went for lesson the following week, the tutor noticed a big improvement. In conclusion, lot's of Practice makes Perfect.

[Zak]

i have been in the roch area for some time now nich is a great teacher i played for him over the summer i was really nervous and he said hey what are you worried about im a pussy cat i hope to play for him again soon

The first time I played for him, I was pretty nervous, too. It's tough to put yourself in front of such an authority. He's very good at seeing past people's nerves.

From the Rochester area, eh? Who do you normally study with? Are you a guitar student? Peace!

[knucklebrain1970]

Well I'm an Oracle DBA and the company thinks that people don't deserve a life, I have a wife with no hobbies but me :shock: :lol:

So I'm lucky if I get 2 hours per day. :cry:

Coorperate Rat Race Sucks. LEME OUT.

Kevin

[hiracer]

I think it was Tiger Woods' father who said, "Practice makes permanent." I've been trying to take that to heart. I know I have messed up some songs by hurriedly practicing through them, reinforcing sloppy playing.

He also said, "Perfect practice makes perfect." Easier said than done, at least for me. I do find, however, that speed is the enemy.

[Jubilee Valence]

About 20 hrs a week I'd say. I wish I had time for more - I'm trying to study at Eastman while working on a biology degree at U of Rochester. NO time!

your degree must be pretty easy, because i am a sophomore in college for a major of mechanical engineering and I find NO time at all to practice, maybe 2 hours per week if im lucky. So be grateful that u get 20 per week, thats a lot for someone who is studying. but i guess thats the consequences of studying engineering... :P Allright now,which one of you started this!!?? :roll: LOL Shroom, notice- he put big smile on his comeback,instead of the "razzz" like mine..ooops..Zak aint dissin' ya' bro!! ..figgered' you & Sorin both as engineers-comes out in yer' flamenco abilities!!Saludos!! I for one,am damn impressed with you younger guys able to grind it out w/ schooling AND serious musical studies as well!!Double Saludos ALL! Hi RACER!Enlightening thread to say the least...me? a lot of the rust is working itself off & that on-line metronome-in ONE session-settled me down big time..was goin' about 6 hrs a nite/late to get "some" of the chops back but have settled down to just "playin' on the fly".EZ parts done!Well Perf referred me to an awesome teacher locally;Brian has referred the Jerry Willard materials & Drac has forwarded some tip-top flamenco materials..JEEEZZ :cry:--Jubi...ps :twisted: Evil twin,that is you!! Perfectly structured/logical/efficient by day..but then....Yo'da'little-lady WHEW!!!! :wink: when's the next full moon?

[bketchel]

I love playing the classical guitar, but as a beginner my repertoire is too limited to practice the same 4 songs over and over. I spend most of my time working on the "correct" fingering and trying to un-learn the fingerings I initially taught myself. Seems that often times the correct fingerings are not the easiest at first.....but they'll make a song sound much better once you get the hand of it.

Also, if I practice too much it becomes difficult to stay relaxed because of back / wrist fatigue. Hope this becomes less of a factor and my skills increase.

By the way, I love this NG....lots of good info here.

[dap22]

Bketchel,
you are extremely correct, and your logic is great.
Yes, it is so important to practice the right fingerings. Not only will this make you a more confident and smarter player, when you play a recital, if you are nervouse and your mind is somewhere else...at least your fingers will know exactly where to go without having to think about it. Also, starting off making sure you have the right fingerings trains you to make smarter decisions in which fingers to use...this will come in handy when you are playing full neck cross-string scales, and especially the music of JS Bach.
Your back and wrist fatigue is something you will become more resistant to over time, however, over-practice can also be bad. When I practice, I don't practice in a full session of 4 to 5 hours. I usually take breaks every hour or hour and a half. This keeps my mind alert, keeps me relaxed, and loosens up any possible tension that may have formed in my muscles from having been sitting down for all this time.

It is exciting to hear from someone at your level of playing already at such a smart level of thinking. Congratulations on a very intelligent post in mentioning the importance of proper fingerings.
If you keep thinking along these lines and keep practicing and working hard, you could go very far with the guitar.
Thanks for posting, and best of luck in your studies on the guitar.

Doug.

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I don’t think you should follow a regimented schedule of practicing.
Practice only when it is fun and it is something you want to do.
Forcing yourself to play even when you don’t want too or you have other things to do is not a good way of approaching guitar even if your instructor says you should follow a schedule.

I have been playing guitar for around 17 years (CG for only 2 or so now) but still play on average 1 hour everyday....not because I am supposed to but only because I want too.

All I am saying is keep playing fun.....this will keep you playing.

-JH

[dap22]

Hey Johnny Hotnuts,
You have a nice theory about keep practicing fun in order to keep playing. For a hobby, that is a nice way to approach it...do it when you want to and don't force yourself. But I emphasize again, this is only for when you want to do it as a hobby, a mere past-time....like reading a relaxing book for fun.
However, this is not the case if you are attempting to purse music for a career, or if you are a music major, or anything along these lines. It's more about how much are you willing to sacrifice for the love of your instrument. Once you have given it all you have...how much more can you give it. And its not a matter about it being 'fun', its a matter about you loving it so much that regardless of if what you are doing, fun or boring, you still feel passionate about doing it and not only just doing it...but doing it your absolute best...the absolute best the instrument has ever experienced.
Manuel Barrueco and David Russell wouldn't have gotten anywhere if they didn't give guitar all that they had and raise the bar on what is expected from a guitar piece. Bach wouldn't have composed so much if he didn't absolutely live as part of the music.
How much you practice depends on how far you want to go on your instrument. That is the bottom line. And only you can answer that question, because we all work and practice differently. If you want it only as a hobby, and I still find that admirable as well as respectable, then you can relax, take it easy, if you miss a day of practice it's not a problem. But if it is what you live for and what you eventually expect it to provide a living for you, then things are quite a bit different...

Best of luck,
Doug.

[Guillermo Rosado]

Doug:
Is there anything wrong with your mail server ?
I received a notification that my last reply has been delayed.
Best regards.
Guillermo

[adrian]

Guillermo Rosado,

Not that I know of. We'll look into it.

[Ken23]

According to my teacher, one hour of practice per day is just enough to keep you at whatever level you're at. Three hours is needed for steady improvement.

[hiracer]

It's pretty easy to get better in the beginning. For a rank beginner, one hour a day will definitely produce improvement.

For a well accomplished player, one hour a day may not do much.

[Louie]

Shroomy,

Mech Engineering is one of the toughest degrees you can under take at any University. I've been one for almost 20 years. I work for one of the big 3 auto manufactures. Don't let some of these replays get you down. Unfortunately the starting pay scale for mech Engineering has not kept in pace with the current tuition prices. You will be working like a dog to pay it back based on the current job market, therefore if you can't find the time to practice now, it will be as difficult when you get a job. Try to see where you are wasting your time and fit the practice in here. IMOP.

Louie

[Stefan*]

Shroomy,

Mech Engineering is one of the toughest degrees you can under take at any University. I've been one for almost 20 years. I work for one of the big 3 auto manufactures. Don't let some of these replays get you down. Unfortunately the starting pay scale for mech Engineering has not kept in pace with the current tuition prices. You will be working like a dog to pay it back based on the current job market, therefore if you can't find the time to practice now, it will be as difficult when you get a job. Try to see where you are wasting your time and fit the practice in here. IMOP.

Louie

Agreed ... the only ones tougher are Electrical and Computer Engineering. That said, you'll be underpaid the rest of your life unless you start yor own company. I know business owners who can barely speak english, barely got out of high school, can't send an email, but make millions!

The only whiners I knew were the art students who whined about having to get up at noon to make it to their one class that day (my sister is one of them!)

Now, back on topic ...

Segovia once said, if I don't practise one day, I know it, 2 days and my wife knows it, 3 days and everyone knows it.

I think the advice about whether it's a serious profession or a hobby is sound. For hobbies, don't force yourself or else you'll end up hating it. For a profession, well, people have to compete ... so either you're a born vitusoso or you'll have to work hard (or both). If none of the proffesioanls ever practised then you could get by on 5 minutes, but I don't think that's the case :)

The other thing my teacher advised, is when learning pieces, focus on one or two and learn them perfectly before moving to the next. Jumping around you won't know anything well.

peace...

[selma600]

The variation of that one is from dancers - one day, you know it, 2 days, your teacher knows it and three days, the audience knows it. When I was dancing seriously (sigh...ah the days when I could eat, eat, eat!) if I had to miss a week I would go back and spend three in the beginner and intermediate classes.
Anything muscular has to be regular.
One of my dance teachers told me something, though, that I have found true in many learning situations: the day you don't feel like coming to class/rehearsing and you come on anyway, that's the day something great is likely to happen.

Louie[/quote]

Agreed ... the only ones tougher are Electrical and Computer Engineering. That said, you'll be underpaid the rest of your life unless you start yor own company. I know business owners who can barely speak english, barely got out of high school, can't send an email, but make millions!

The only whiners I knew were the art students who whined about having to get up at noon to make it to their one class that day (my sister is one of them!)

Now, back on topic ...

Segovia once said, if I don't practise one day, I know it, 2 days and my wife knows it, 3 days and everyone knows it.

I think the advice about whether it's a serious profession or a hobby is sound. For hobbies, don't force yourself or else you'll end up hating it. For a profession, well, people have to compete ... so either you're a born vitusoso or you'll have to work hard (or both). If none of the proffesioanls ever practised then you could get by on 5 minutes, but I don't think that's the case :)

The other thing my teacher advised, is when learning pieces, focus on one or two and learn them perfectly before moving to the next. Jumping around you won't know anything well.

peace...[/quote]

[Shroomy726]

Shroomy,

Mech Engineering is one of the toughest degrees you can under take at any University. I've been one for almost 20 years. I work for one of the big 3 auto manufactures. Don't let some of these replays get you down. Unfortunately the starting pay scale for mech Engineering has not kept in pace with the current tuition prices. You will be working like a dog to pay it back based on the current job market, therefore if you can't find the time to practice now, it will be as difficult when you get a job. Try to see where you are wasting your time and fit the practice in here. IMOP.

Louie

Agreed ... the only ones tougher are Electrical and Computer Engineering. That said, you'll be underpaid the rest of your life unless you start yor own company. I know business owners who can barely speak english, barely got out of high school, can't send an email, but make millions!

The only whiners I knew were the art students who whined about having to get up at noon to make it to their one class that day (my sister is one of them!)

Now, back on topic ...

Segovia once said, if I don't practise one day, I know it, 2 days and my wife knows it, 3 days and everyone knows it.

I think the advice about whether it's a serious profession or a hobby is sound. For hobbies, don't force yourself or else you'll end up hating it. For a profession, well, people have to compete ... so either you're a born vitusoso or you'll have to work hard (or both). If none of the proffesioanls ever practised then you could get by on 5 minutes, but I don't think that's the case :)

The other thing my teacher advised, is when learning pieces, focus on one or two and learn them perfectly before moving to the next. Jumping around you won't know anything well.

peace...

Underpaid? Where do you work at?? My dad makes around 100000-200000 a year. Thats why i am going to mech eng, cuz i like it and cuz it pays well. You just gotta get As in it. And Electrical eng. is so easy!! I actually changed because i thought it wasnt a challenge.

[Stefan*]

Underpaid? Where do you work at?? My dad makes around 100000-200000 a year. Thats why i am going to mech eng, cuz i like it and cuz it pays well. You just gotta get As in it. And Electrical eng. is so easy!! I actually changed because i thought it wasnt a challenge.

We're really off topic now , but send me the web site for your dad's company and I'll apply.! I was at Nortel for 13 years of my career before the tech bust and I only managed to get $80k/yr (that's CDN) ... and that was only after moving to management. My next door neighbour started a garbage hauling company when he was 18 and he sold it for $28M. I know a doctor who is ready to quite medicine b/c his neighbour runs a golf course and is rolling in it. (the money, not thegrass :)) Education is great and beats having to put tires on a car at the GM plant ... but in a capitalist country ... the businessman is KING.

As for Electrical not being a challenge ... hmm ... maybe it's a school thing, but I can asure it was more than enough of a challenge at the Univeristy of Waterloo ... 1/2 of my 2nd year class failed out b/c of one electrical motors course.

Anyhow, don't worry, be happy and ... go practise your guitar :)

[Shroomy726]

He works at Exxon Mobile, as a maintenance inspector.

[racer_x]

I think it's different for everyone here. Just like studying for an exam. Some people can read the chapter once and that is enough while some require reading it over and over and then cramming right before the exam.
Some players have a natural ability to play better than others at a faster pace. I think everyone needs to practice to improve though. I see too many people practicing other peoples music rather than trying to compose any of their own. Being able to play others music is fine, but will never make you stand out above the rest. I think people need to practice writing more so than trying to figure out a Bach piece that has already been recorded and played so many times it's like beating a dead horse. I think 2 hours a day of proper practice is good, then a couple more playing some pieces or just plucking around if you can find the time.

[George Richards]

I agree with the Segovia remark--regular practice is crucial. But it's also important to take a break for a day now and then. I have come back from a day off sounding better, and I'm sure that's because the muscles have had a chance to rest and recover a bit, and because my attention to playing is fresher because of the time away. This is especially important if you're practicing 3-5 hours a day and working on the same batch of pieces (for a concert or recital, for instance).

As it usually turns out, life forces a day off on us from time to time anyway!!

[AndyS]

2 hours a day. One session for technique in the morning (1 hour) and another session in the afternoon for compositions (1 hour). I am not a professional guitarist, but this schedule keeps me playing concert level compositions or any study I choose with a degree of mastery with which I am happy (relative to myself and only me).

And if I want to take a day off, I take a day off...not a professional. I think 2 hours a day is a good amount of time to prevent burn out and progress at a good rate. Spliting it up works for me, for others it won't. Always try to remember, and I know I am going to get blasted for this, but unless you are John Williams, perfection is unattainable thing for most of us. It is more important to remember that you love the guitar and you want to play for the rest of your life. So if you mess up, don't think that you need to practice more, just accept it and come back to it tomorrow. Also don't think about where you will be tomorrow, but this time a year from now.

[Stefan*]

Andy made a good point about splitting your technique and composition time. It's technique that keeps your fingers moving and sync'd with the left hand. If you focus only on playing compositions you like, your technique overall won't develop as well. If you can't swing 2 hours a day ( I know I can't) then try alternating technique with composition every other day or even 30 minutes of each, or some other schedule that works. Just make sure not to overlook one for the other.

Looking long term is VERY important. I don't make much progress day to day, but form year to year .. wow! And don't forget, as you get to the upper rungs of technique and playing, it takes more work to improve less :) Kind of exponential work vs improvement curve.

As for perfection ... well, we are talking about art here as well as technique, so I don't think that term even applies. It's too subjective. I've heard the most simple pieces played so beautifully I'd rather listen to them than to a complex piece done to prefection. But that's me ... and art is subjective. So don't kill yourself, remember the whole idea is to have fun and enjoy what you do (even for proffessionals).

[Pepe Vergara]

...... When I was dancing seriously (sigh...ah the days when I could eat, eat, eat!) if I had to miss a week I would go back and spend three in the beginner and intermediate classes. Anything muscular has to be regular......

Selma: What kind of dance did you do? When I was a kid (11-12 yo, many moons ago), dance was considered just for girls. The only dance that we had around was flamenco. So, my sisters were enrolled in flamenco, and since I had to watch them, they enrolled me in flamenco too. I loved it!! Male flamenco dancers only moved so much and all the gestures were very masculin and centered around the dancing girl. That made me feel better. The only girly thing was the castanetas. I prefered to use clapping. Then, one day a flamenco company came to our schoold and those guys that came really danced!! Wow. They moved hips, legs, arms, twist their head, all like a girl. Then, I saw a movie of Carment Amaya dancing like a man!! Then I quit. You are right! Dancing keeps pounds away, My daugher is now learing flamenco dancing in Italy!! But they do travel to Andalucia in Spain often.

[J]

Although I don't practice nearly as much when I was studying music...at least 8 hrs per day and one day off a week. A lot more time then.
One thing one always should remember is that you have to let muscles/tendons rest inbetween long sessions. I would never play more than 2 hours straight without a break. You can really injure yourself permanently.

I used to tell my beginning students that they needed to make it a point to practice at least 15 minutes a day. No one can make the excuse that they couldn't practice 15 minutes. Of course once they got into the routine it was always more like 2 hours a day. It was a vicious lie that worked. :twisted: Most people have a lot more time than they think.

Nowadays with my hectik schedule I found that just carrying my guitar everywhere I go and practicing whenever I have a moment works best. 15 min here, 30 min there, an hour over here makes for a good amount of practicing each day.

[kfisherx]

I think it was mentioned before that HOW you practice is more important than how much. I have been playing for just 2 years now and have been working on a schedule that develops me in the best manner with only 2 hours or less a day to practice. I will share that schedule in the hopes that others will do the same. I am always looking for improvement.

http://www.kfisherx.com/Guitar/HowTo/Guitar%20Practice%20Schedule.doc

[Hucbald]

Well, it takes me two hours just to play through my extended set, so that's my daily minimum. I think it's been over eight months now since I did any less than that. Most days I do an additional hour or so of metronome work, and if I still have time, I go back and play all the most difficult pieces I know through three times each. A couple of months ago I went through this phase where I had a guitar in my hands over eight hours a day, and I actually did 14 hours one day (I timed it). But, those phases are rare, and it had been many years since I did anything like that. I guess I average out at about 4-5 hours a day, but like Hotnuts said, you have to keep it fun. Some days I run through my set and I just don't FEEL like doing anything else. I also gig a lot, and though performing and practicing are different things, I find that ONLY when I perform several nights a week does my playing really get to it's best level, regardless of how many hours I spend in my practice studio. Of course, being 47 with no wife, kids, pets, or girlfriends to distract me helps in all of this. :wink:

Hucbald

[ranger2000]

Since I work in San Jose, CA (Silicon Valley) in one of those "high tech" jobs with a long and nasty commute home from work, I'm usually playing when I'm mentally and physically tired. Usually this turns out to be 30-60 minutes a day. Usually I play 1-2 hours on Sat. & Sun.

I've found it's more important to play when you're mentally alert and you're body relaxed (not tired from work). That way you pay more attention to your right and left hand technique and string intonations when playing. Usually I found the quality of my playing time is much better when this happens.

That's my $.02 on this matter.

[flamencofreak]

I too am a one-year novice (pro lessons since early Nov.), fitting guitar into a typical daily schedule with work, chores, etc. I try to practice 90 minutes to 2 hours every evening with concentration on exercises and scales; maybe 30 minutes is on pieces. I also figure the first fifteen minutes is warm-up and not very productive. My teacher says my rate of improvement is far faster than his other adult students who concentrate on playing songs and practice less than an hour per day.

I think you've about nailed it here. I'm 61 years old...been playing (or playing at it) for many years. I took flamenco lessons from a guy in San Diego starting when I was 24. That was the first time I started to take it seriously (prior to that, I had only played folk music...rather poorly), but I didn't stick with it.

Time has a way of passing very quickly. I never lost my love of the instrument and have always "played" (not well), but in recent years started to take it seriously, maybe for the first time in my life, really. I love it that much. I regret all the wasted years when I didn't really give it the time and effort I should have, but I am now, and am enjoying it immensely. I started to teach myself classical using Christopher Parkening's books a couple of years ago, and I have also been working on the flamenco again.

Exercises are key to rapid development (especially when time is short :wink: ) I can't tell you how much a few simple exercises (chromatic exercise and some arpeggios) have improved my playing ability in a very short time. They are good for you! Do them! You won't be sorry.

I'm fortunate because I'm self employed, so I can take a couple hours in the morning if I want (most mornings) and a couple in the evening too. I always warm up first with the chromatic exercise even if I don't do any others. It makes a huge difference and speeds all other development work on pieces. I can't say enough about this....took me many years to figure it out!

Lastly, someone said he only wanted to play for his enjoyment. Well, my experience was that I wasn't enjoying it that much since I couldn't play well. I was frustrated.

I'm glad I discovered this forum. I find it very interesting and educational. Obviously there are some very accomplished guitarists that post here. I enjoy reading all the posts.

Bill in Ohio

[rdubb]

practice with awareness. breathe. study yoga and meditation concurrently. You'll play with less tension and improve much faster.

How much you practice should be dependend upon how well you can comfortably concentrate, and how much time you have (of course), keeping in mind that the muscles and the brain generally can't go for much more than an hour at a time without rest. [/quote]