How Many Hours a Day Should You PRACTICE?

Kiko Loureiro

23 May 202106:21

Summary

TLDRIn 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.

Outlines

00:00

🎼 The Importance of Quality Practice

In the first paragraph, Kiko emphasizes that the quantity of practice hours is less important than the quality. He advises daily practice, even if it's just 30 minutes to an hour, over long sessions on weekends. Kiko stresses the importance of discipline, setting goals, and working towards them every day. He also talks about the need for a structured practice routine, including various techniques like alternate picking, sweep picking, tapping, legatos, and chord practice. Additionally, he mentions the importance of improvisation, repertoire learning, composition, and exploring different musical styles to enrich one's musical vocabulary.

05:07

🚫 Avoiding Distractions and Making Choices

The second paragraph discusses the importance of avoiding distractions such as video games and social activities that could detract from guitar practice. Kiko shares his personal choice to avoid video games to prevent addiction and stay focused on his goal of becoming a great guitar player. He encourages viewers to make similar conscious choices and invites them to share their ideal practice methods. Kiko concludes by reminding viewers to subscribe to his channel for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Practice

Practice refers to the act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve one's skill. In the context of the video, practice is emphasized as a critical component of musical development, with a focus on the quality of practice time rather than the quantity. The script mentions that even 30 minutes or an hour of daily practice is more beneficial than longer sessions on weekends, highlighting the importance of consistent, disciplined practice.

💡Quality

Quality, in this video, denotes the effectiveness and purposefulness of the time spent practicing. It is contrasted with the mere quantity of hours, suggesting that focused and goal-oriented practice is more valuable. The script illustrates this by advocating for daily practice sessions, regardless of their length, that are dedicated to specific goals or techniques.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the ability to control one's actions and emotions in accordance with a set of rules or a plan. In the video, discipline is portrayed as essential for a musician's growth, as it ensures regular practice and adherence to a structured routine. The speaker shares their personal experience of organizing a practice schedule similar to a school timetable, which exemplifies the application of discipline in their musical journey.

💡Goal

A goal is an aim or objective that a person sets for themselves. The video emphasizes the importance of having a clear goal when practicing music, such as becoming a composer, a shredder, or mastering a specific song. Setting goals provides direction and motivation, as seen in the script where the speaker recalls focusing on particular techniques or solos to achieve their desired outcomes.

💡Technique

Technique refers to a method or way of performing a task, especially in an art or craft. In the context of the video, musical techniques such as alternate picking, sweep picking, tapping, and legato are mentioned as specific skills to be practiced. The speaker advises dividing the week to focus on different techniques, demonstrating the importance of mastering various techniques to enhance one's musicianship.

💡Chords

Chords are combinations of musical notes played simultaneously. The script highlights the significance of practicing chords as a fundamental aspect of musical training. Chords provide the harmonic foundation of many songs and styles, and the speaker suggests allocating time to explore and understand them within one's practice routine.

💡Improvisation

Improvisation is the process of creating music spontaneously without prior preparation. The video script encourages setting aside time for improvisation during practice, which is a way to develop creativity and expressiveness in music. Improvisation allows musicians to explore new ideas and expand their musical vocabulary.

💡Repertoare

Repertoare refers to the body of music that a musician knows and can perform. In the video, learning songs and solos is mentioned as an important part of a musician's practice, which helps in building a repertoire. A diverse repertoire can showcase a musician's versatility and understanding of different musical styles.

💡Composition

Composition is the process of creating a piece of music. The script mentions composing as a goal for some musicians, which involves writing original songs or ideas. Composition is a way to express one's unique musical voice and contributes to the development of a musician's artistic identity.

💡Theory

Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. The video script suggests that understanding music theory is an important aspect of practice, as it provides the foundational knowledge necessary for musicians to create and interpret music. Theory helps in analyzing and appreciating the structure and elements of different musical styles.

💡Enjoyment

Enjoyment is the state of taking pleasure in an activity. The video emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process of practicing and playing music, rather than viewing it solely as a means to an end. The speaker encourages embracing the journey of learning music and finding joy in every aspect, which can lead to a more fulfilling musical experience.

💡Long-term

Long-term refers to a perspective that focuses on enduring outcomes rather than immediate results. In the context of the video, a long-term approach to music practice is advocated, where the emphasis is on consistent improvement and development over time. The speaker suggests that patience and a long-term mindset can lead to more significant and lasting progress in musical ability.

Highlights

The importance of the quality of practice over the quantity of hours played.

The significance of daily discipline in practicing, even if it's just for 30 minutes or an hour.

The necessity of setting clear goals for what you want to achieve in music.

The impact of focusing on specific techniques or songs to improve as a musician.

Organizing a practice schedule similar to a school class schedule for structured learning.

The variety of guitar techniques to include in a practice routine, such as alternate picking, sweep picking, tapping, and legatos.

The importance of practicing chords and discovering new chord progressions.

The need for time dedicated to improvisation and learning repertoire.

The value of composing original ideas and the process of writing songs.

The role of music theory and research in enhancing a musician's skill set.

The benefits of exploring different styles of music to expand one's musical vocabulary.

Strategies for dividing practice time throughout the week or month based on specific techniques or goals.

The long-term benefits of consistent practice and the importance of enjoying the process of learning music.

The personal choice to avoid distractions such as video games to focus on guitar practice.

The anecdote of not starting to play video games to prevent addiction and focus on becoming a great guitar player.

The emphasis on making choices that align with one's musical aspirations and goals.

The call to action for viewers to share their practice methods and thoughts in the comments section.