Re: five minutes a day

[Pierre <slavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert said:

This thread is VERY interesting for an european mind and, IMHO, has A
LOT to do with "instant gratification" so engrained in the american
psyche.

I guess Iceman forgot there are Europeans on the list. You have to
understand that due to constant abuse by marketers, the american mind has
been forced to adapt, whenever it hears an exagerated claim, it recognizes
it as hype and either ignores it or translates the claim to a more resonable
claim in less than a nanosecond.

Don't forget Iceman said:

>> Of course, any additional practice you wish to add should be considered a
bonus to yourself and enjoyed as such, but treat it separate >> from the new
discipline you are developing

So you can play more but should be diciplined for 5 minutes a day and work
on one item. I tried to practice one skill for 5 minutes and without even
noticing I was over ten minutes before I new it. Now hopefully I will play
some more today but if I get busy or get sucked in by the boob tube I will
have practiced the one thing I really want to improve.

Gordon Graham said:

The more often our brains are reminded of what we
are trying to learn the faster we develop those habits.

I agree with Gordon and would like to add that in any kind of training,
quality is more important than quantity; I'm real good at quantity as I like
to fool around, but I'm terrible at quality. So for me 5 minutes of quality
a day of quality time sounds just great.

Pierre.

(Canada)







- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Koch" <rok68@xxxxxx>
To: <rainbowjimmy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 11:24 AM
Subject: RE : five minutes a day


>
>
>
>    Dear list,
>
>    This thread is VERY interesting for an european mind and, IMHO, has A
> LOT to do with "instant gratification" so engrained in the american
> psyche.
>    Who wants to believe that by practicing 5 minutes a day, repeat 5
> minutes a day, one can make significant progress on the harmonica or,
> for that matter, on any other instrument ?
>    It seems to me as common sense that the more you practice the better
> you become. I remember a post by Douglas Tate stating that he worked on
> his scales for years, several hours everyday...
>    If this "5 minutes a day" thing means that you have to, repeat have
> to, practice everyday, preferably at the same time, I can agree. If it's
> meant as an insurance policy for getting better, I flatly refuse it.
>    I live in Vienna (Austria), a city that has been producing the best
> classical musicians for the last four centuries. A japanese friend of
> mine is curretnly trying to graduate for one of the better music schools
> here. He is allready in total command of his instrument (cello). He
> practices at least, repeat at least, eight hours a day. I agree that
> this in kinda extreme. But this is what it takes here.
>    The very small but vibrant blues scene has some outstanding
> musicians. Each and everyone tells me that he works his instrument
> several hours a day: practicing, rehearsing, recording or gigging.
>    Being myself in the learning process (I am 54 and took up the
> instrument again 6 years ago after leaving it in the closet for 30
> years), it appears to me that I need AT LEAST 30 minutes to an hour a
> day TO KEEP UP with my actual playing level. I would characterize myself
> as an advanced intermediate player (I master all bends, most of the OBs
> and Ods and am proficient at TB). So what are 30 minutes a day for the
> harp ? Answer is simple: alltogether an act of love, a statement of will
> power (if Kim can do it I can do it too!) and a therapy.
>    Practice, practice regularly, practice consciously and...as much as
> you can! IT WILL PAY OFF!!!
>    Respectfully.
>    Sunnyside
>
>
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