Practice

Practice is a small word that conjures up certain feelings within almost everyone. The feelings or thoughts associated with it have a lot to do with each persons past experience(s).

One of the first things many people associate with practice is about some type of sport. Every sport has regular practices scheduled before a game or competition. This is necessary for the athletes to learn their sport sufficiently to compete. It is really the same for any endeavor you become involved in, though you may not think of it as practice. Maybe it is your job and you are just thinking of it as working on your job and slowly becoming more proficient and efficient. When in school you think of your work in math, science, and other subjects as homework. Much of it is practice to help you learn and retain the lessons you need to master in order to move on to more complicated levels.

So why am I thinking of practice today? Mainly because we had another good practice session last night. Also because it is a necessary part of playing and performing music. How much you perform often determines how much you need to practice. As you are first learning to play, you have to spend a lot of time practicing, or woodshedding. When you start performing regularly, there is less time to spend in formal practice, though a certain amount is still needed to upgrade your music and add new songs.

Just about everyone has heard the old saying that practice makes perfect. An update to that is that perfect practice makes perfect. Relating this to music I find one of my favorite quotes from Doc Watson, who said, "If you want to play like an angel, you need to practice like the devil".

If I could have heard how I play today when I first began playing an instrument, I would have thought how happy I would be to play that well. Today though, I find that I have a long way to go to be where I really want to be. That is okay though because I am still playing, I am still learning, and I am still enjoying it. And I am still practicing.

A few times over the years I have taught some basic lessons on the guitar and banjo. Part of my advice to everyone is to enjoy the journey. If all you want to do is be on stage playing great music, you are not likely to make it. You need to enjoy all the time you have with an instrument. I once heard that you can tell a real musician because they are happy playing whether they have an audience or not. I think that is true to a point. I have had many great times playing alone or with a few other people. However, there is a special warmth and satisfaction achieved when performing for an appreciative audience. There is a real give and take that benefits both sides of the stage. So, at least for me, I need to have both the private times to play as well as the times to perform.

David and I have been practicing and performing together for most of the past 36 years. He started a little before me, but we got more serious about it around the same time. The first couple of years were spent learning basics in my parents basement. We listened to a lot of good music and were especially motivated by John Denver, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Flatt & Scruggs, and Doc Watson, as well as many singer/songwriters, bluegrass, and traditional bands.

We lived about 200 yards apart (when home from college) when we were first beginning. Later I bought a cabin near Vogel and David lived at Tugaloo State Park and then Unicoi State Park. We got together regularly with others in a band we had formed to practice and perform. Many nights were spent awake and playing in that old cabin. Many wonderful memories were established.

For the past several years, we have lived a little over 60 miles apart and usually alternate going to each others house to practice. We take some times off for family and other things we need to take care of, but then get back to our practice and perform schedule. Most times we want to get together at least once a week for a practice or a performance. Life would be a little (lot) less enjoyable for me without the music involved. There have been times that I thought I should stop playing because it takes up so much time. But that is just not a realistic idea, as it turns out.

Our last two practice sessions have felt extra productive. It may because we are in one of those

breakthrough times, or it may be due to the fact that we did not practice at all over the Christmas holiday season. Whatever the reason, I like it.

Our practice finished last night just a little before midnight (about the time I had told my wife I would be home). As we were packing up, we discussed the idea that we better love playing music. Otherwise it would just be too much work. The truth is that we were both on a little bit of a high from having had a really good practice. It was one of those times that you feel elated on what you have accomplished and what you see as possible for the near future. There are times you feel frustrated, but this was not one of them.

Of course we love playing music. If not, there is no way we could still be doing so after all these years. And certainly not with the enthusiastic outlook for doing even more. I have often said that there are many, many people who can play better than I do. However, I know that there is no one that enjoys it any more.

I hope you love your music, whether you are playing or listening. And I hope you are enjoying your practice - no matter what you are practicing. Have a good one and we will see you soon.

Nelson