How Many Hours a Day Should You PRACTICE?

Summary

In this video, Kiko emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in practice hours for musicians. He advises daily practice, even if it's just 30 minutes, and setting clear goals to guide one's musical journey. Kiko shares his personal experience of organizing a practice schedule, focusing on various techniques, improvisation, and learning new styles. He stresses the long-term benefits of disciplined practice and enjoying the process, rather than solely aiming for success. Kiko also touches on avoiding distractions like video games to stay focused on becoming a great musician.

Takeaways

• 🎼 Quality over Quantity: The importance of the quality of practice hours rather than the number of hours is emphasized.
• 📅 Daily Discipline: Practicing every day, even for short periods like 30 minutes, is more beneficial than long sessions only on weekends.
• 🎯 Goal Setting: Having clear goals, such as mastering a specific song or technique, is crucial for focused practice.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 No Mentors? No Problem: Without musicians in the family, Kiko organized his practice time like a school schedule to ensure structured learning.
• 🔄 Variety of Techniques: Incorporating different techniques like alternate picking, sweep picking, tapping, and legato into the practice routine.
• 🎹 Chords Mastery: The necessity of practicing and discovering chords as a fundamental part of guitar playing.
• 💭 Improvisation Time: Allocating time for improvisation to develop creativity and musical expression.
• 📝 Composition: Making time to compose and write original music as part of the practice regimen.
• 📚 Music Theory and Research: Understanding the value of learning music theory and exploring different styles to expand musical vocabulary.
• 🌏 Exploring Styles: Delving into various music styles such as blues, country, flamenco, or bossa nova to enrich one's musical knowledge.
• 🗓️ Organized Schedule: The benefits of having a well-organized practice schedule that includes time for different aspects of musical development.
• 🌟 Enjoy the Journey: Music is about enjoying the process and the journey, not just the end goal or a means to an occupation.
• 🎮 Avoiding Distractions: Kiko's choice to avoid video games and other distractions to focus on becoming a great guitar player.

Q & A

What is the most important aspect of practicing according to Kiko's perspective?

The most important aspect of practicing, according to Kiko, is not the quantity of hours but the quality of those hours spent practicing, with or without the instrument.

Why is it beneficial to practice every day, even if it's just for a short period?

Practicing every day, even for a short period like 30 minutes or an hour, is more beneficial than long practice sessions on weekends because it promotes discipline and consistency.

What role does having a goal play in one's practice routine?

Having a goal is crucial as it provides direction and motivation, whether it's to become a composer, a shredder, a blues player, or to master a specific song or solo.

How did Kiko organize his practice time when he was a teenager?

Kiko organized his practice time like a class schedule, planning what to practice each day of the week and focusing on different techniques and aspects of playing.

What are some of the techniques Kiko mentioned that one should practice?

Kiko mentioned techniques such as alternate picking, sweep picking, tapping, legatos, and also emphasized the importance of practicing chords.

Why is it important to include improvisation and learning new styles in one's practice routine?

Including improvisation and learning new styles broadens a musician's vocabulary and understanding of music, allowing for more creativity and growth.

How did Kiko manage distractions when he was a teenager?

Kiko managed distractions by making conscious choices, such as not buying video games to avoid addiction and focusing on becoming a great guitar player.

What does Kiko suggest about the relationship between music and long-term enjoyment?

Kiko suggests that music should be enjoyed as a process and not just as a means to an end, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the journey of learning and playing.

How did Kiko approach the balance between structured practice and spontaneous playing?

Kiko balanced structured practice with spontaneous playing by scheduling specific techniques and also allocating time for improvisation and writing ideas.

What advice does Kiko give regarding the use of distractions like video games?

Kiko advises against starting to play video games if one wants to avoid addiction and stay focused on their musical goals, although he does not have anything against them personally.

How does Kiko view the role of music in one's life?

Kiko views music as something to be enjoyed for the process itself, rather than solely as a means to achieve a job or status.