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

#61
BooDoggie said:
When I grew up music was almost as important as breathing and eating and sometimes even more important than eating. I was extremely lucky though because my father was a working bass player and he always encouraged us to pursue music.
My brother is a drummer, and I had access to bass, guitars and other instruments ever since I can remember and believe me that is a long time. My schedule was... school, play music with my brother, eat dinner, do homework, sleep and repeat with an occasional day off to play outdoors. (Do young people do this anymore?)
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Play outdoors? It's rare. My dad used to tell me stories about the 80s and how his buddies and him would go on little adventures around town. Sounded like so much fun. But if it wasn't for a lot of the weirdos out and my overprotective parents, I'd be outside riding around town on bikes with my friends. Lol.
 
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#63
You are getting lots of good advice here. I started at 12 so you are definitely not too old. Key points of advice for me - 1). you can always find a little bit of time. Think about all the things that you do each day that waste time (we all have them) and stop doing one of them 2). Take that time and consistently play your bass. As has been said here alot, a little every day is way better than alot 1-2x per week. It helps me to practice at the same time every day, that way I always know when its time to get to it. Speaking of which, it's 5:10 and I'm 10 minutes late so off I go to practice. For me, its an hour a day, but if I am pressed for time, I have an express session that I can do in 20-30 minutes. Even 15 would be ok, as long as its 5-6 days per week.
 
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#64
If you spend a lot of time online, stop. :)

It may sound trite, but read up on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, specifically #2 (begin with the end in mind) and #3 (put first things first - or eliminate things that are neither urgent nor important - eg online activities, if that’s not what’s important to you). Essentially, eliminate the time wasting activities.
 
#65
The thing about friends is, if you pick friends that are closely associated with one of the other activities in your life, there're going to be fewer conflicts.

So, if you can take-or-leave your bandmates, maybe join a band with people you like even if they don't play as well as the people you don't care for. Bingo, you have friends and your have bass in the same activity.

Same for school. There will be people you like, and people in the same classes, studying for the same exams. Look for people you like who are in the same classes, studying for the same exams. Boom, fewer conflicts.

You never have to say, "Sorry, can't go to the party, I have a band gig" to friends who are in the band. And you never have to say, "Sorry, I can't study, I'm hanging with my friends" to your study circle, if your friends are already in the study circle.
 
#66
misslynn909 said:
Play outdoors? It's rare. My dad used to tell me stories about the 80s and how his buddies and him would go on little adventures around town. Sounded like so much fun. But if it wasn't for a lot of the weirdos out and my overprotective parents, I'd be outside riding around town on bikes with my friends. Lol.
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LOL... My stories are more in the 70's. It was a different time then. No internet. No smart phones. No computers. I would ride my bike 5 to 6 miles just to visit with some of my school friends.
I don't think there are really many more weirdos or creeps now than there were then, but in this day of near instant communication word gets out a lot faster than it used to. And yes I think a lot of parents are overly protective these days which is actually a bad thing in my opinion.

EDIT: GET OFF OF TB. This is time that could be used for practice!!!
 
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#67
If your grades are good enough, cram as much extracurricular stuff into each day as you can... no matter what that may be...

... and at least 4 hours of practice in your sleep.

Now get to work...
 
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#70
john m said:
When my schedule was that loaded, I gave up sleep hours.

Eventually something else had to go because lack of sleep catches up to our well being.
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Dear OP:

Listen to those telling you not to give up sleep. There are business books piled upon business books wherein CEOs brag that they only sleep a couple of hours a night, suggesting that everyone should work that hard.

The evidence is that most of these people are flat-out lying, and the rest are terrible, toxic human beings estranged from their friends and families, suffering from mania.

Lose sleep on a regular basis, and you lose your ability to be a good friend, your ability to play music, and your ability to succeed in school. And doctor after doctor will tell you that while your brain is developing, sleep is crucial.

Give up sleep to try to have everything, and you may wind up with nothing. We all find we have more things we want to do than time to do them, and that will be true whether you sleep four hours a night, eight hours, or twelve hours a night.

So you might as well listen to your body, sleep well, and face the hard decisions about how to spend your time with your mind and body in tip-top condition. That way, you’ll actually be effective at whatever you decide to do.
 
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#72
kesslari said:
Wait until you get older and get to juggle Work, Family, Friends, Music, Hobbies, and Other Responsibilities... It doesn't get easier.
You just do it. Or you don't.
It helps to manage your time well. If you haven't, read up on time management.
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So true, doesn't get easier when you get older and you have work plus travelling time to and from work killing 11- 12 hours of your day, a wife and family, friends, responsibilities and you then have to find it in practice around these things.
 
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