How can I juggle playing bass, going to school, friends, and exams?

#21
misslynn909 said:
For me, it's tough. I don't know how I can schedule bass into my life. I know, If I REALLY wanted to play bass I'd play regardless of school, friends, personal life, or exams. Trust me, I hear it alot. And the thing is, I do wanna keep playing. Hopefully, even make a poopy High school band. Who knows? How do others do it?
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I haven't had the leisure time that I would like to, for years now. I have a big family, a busy primary job, and I teach guitar/bass lessons on the side. Plus I gig weekly with multiple instruments, so I have to keep my skills up on each of them. What I have found is that efficiency, structure, and focused practice are what is more important than overall time. So here is what I do:

I take something that is technically challenging, but not out of my skill set...and use that as my focus. And I practice the technique for a few minutes, then use that skill in a musical setting.

For example. Let's say that I want to practice my galloping triplets or 3 finger technique. I practice that skill with a metronome moderately slowly and cleanly for 1-2 minutes straight. Then I speed it up a little and repeat the process a few times. Then comes the most important part...I play a few songs that use the skill that I am working on. That solidifies the muscle memory. I can keep that skill up in about 15 minutes a day, a couple of times a week. It's even better if the songs that I choose have a couple of skills, because then in about 20 minutes I can work on more than one thing.

Unfortunately, this only works to maintain what you have...it takes a lot more effort to build a new skill.

But, you can structure a practice routine in 20 to 30 minutes for 5 days a week that will improve new skills. You just have to prepare for it and be very focused, instead of randomly playing things.
 
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#22
misslynn909 said:
For me, it's tough. I don't know how I can schedule bass into my life. I know, If I REALLY wanted to play bass I'd play regardless of school, friends, personal life, or exams. Trust me, I hear it alot. And the thing is, I do wanna keep playing. Hopefully, even make a poopy High school band. Who knows? How do others do it?
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It's tough to juggle a myriad of things into balance. I think you just need to prioritize your needs (not wants) at this point in the game. If bass playing is more important than school, friends and your personal life, then put bass playing at the top of your list. If not, well... you get the picture. I think if you just sit down and prioritize your needs at this time, you will be more content with where you are with your decisions. There may not be as much time as you like for the bass, but that will make it all the more enjoyable when you have the opportunity to play.
 
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#23
Bass placed on a stand (or hanger) in a convenient place, and FIVE MINUTES A DAY, every day. When you find a little extra time now and then, you can spend extra time. But as mentioned above, in the long run a little playing every day is orders of magnitude better than infrequent bass marathons. Your brain and muscle memory get to 'sleep on it' and this makes a huge difference in the neural mapping that goes on 'in the background' :)
 
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#24
I have no idea how I did it when I was at university.
had a full load of classes, part time job, 2 - 3 active gigging bands at any time, and several girlfriends at the same time.
No idea how I pulled it off.
I do remember hosting study groups at places that had a restaurant attached to the bar, so I could study with my friends between sets.
 
#27
If you are feeling stressed, don't feel bad about cutting back. Pick it up when you can, and WANT to. I cut way back during college, and a few years beyond. I even had to sell my gear to spend my senior year in an exchange program (London....it was a GREAT year). When I finally had more time, I got the bug again, and gigged pretty steadily for the next 30 years. No worries!
 
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#30
misslynn909 said:
For me, it's tough. I don't know how I can schedule bass into my life. I know, If I REALLY wanted to play bass I'd play regardless of school, friends, personal life, or exams. Trust me, I hear it alot. And the thing is, I do wanna keep playing. Hopefully, even make a poopy High school band. Who knows? How do others do it?
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Quit talkbass.
 
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#37
misslynn909 said:
For me, it's tough. I don't know how I can schedule bass into my life. I know, If I REALLY wanted to play bass I'd play regardless of school, friends, personal life, or exams. Trust me, I hear it alot. And the thing is, I do wanna keep playing. Hopefully, even make a poopy High school band. Who knows? How do others do it?
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Quit school that’ll take care of the exams! Next drop your friends! Just you and the bass!
Then prepare to live in your car for most of your life. Assuming you will be able to afford it!
Happened to me!!!:rollno::(
 
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#38
Whatever you plan, keep the first hour after dinner free for bass practice. See it as a meditation moment :)

I got a busy job, lots of OT and mostly 6 days a week. No wife ( hey, I'm a bass player ) or kids ( that I know of ) but still a busy social life ( or maybe because of the previous mentioned ). But every evening I have that hour, to find new music, study some songs and work on my setlists.
 
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#39
Drop out of school and kick all those so called friends to the curb. Just play bass 23/7. (That extra hour a day is for sleep) Eat with your fretting hand while playing open strings. This is the only way you can be happy!

Seriously, your in high school. Just live life. Practice a little everyday, study a little every day and don’t stress out about playing music or exams or anything else.

Also, don’t do heroin.
 
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#40
misslynn909 said:
For me, it's tough. I don't know how I can schedule bass into my life. I know, If I REALLY wanted to play bass I'd play regardless of school, friends, personal life, or exams. Trust me, I hear it alot. And the thing is, I do wanna keep playing. Hopefully, even make a poopy High school band. Who knows? How do others do it?
Click to expand...

Plan and prioritize.
 
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