Overdriving Practice Sessions

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Do practice sessions of the past serve to remind you that there is nothing to be gained by modifying the effort to learn? Speaking of learning, are you willing to devote as much time as needed, to succeed at "capturing" something difficult, but desirable? Apparently, those attributes exemplify differences relating to the ability to entertain.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Bill, not sure where you are going ,but, I would say that a dedicated student, regardless of playing level, who is practicing to bring home new stuff always has the edge over the one who doesnt', even if they never play the new stuff on a gig. If the mindset is to study and advance then thats always a personal achievement and at some point whether it's accidental or on purpose, it will show up in the playing wherever that may be.

Many people read books and all sorts of material all the time, they don't actually tell everyone what they read or what they learn but at some point the KNOWLEDGE will just pop out.

I have an opinion on daily practice, I feel that many players really don't know HOW to pratice and spend most of there sit down time playing but not really getting anywhere. OF course they are improving but it is a very SLOW process compared to one that plays the exact same thing over and over again for two months or longer..

Each time we sit and practice at home does not mean it is actually a practice session, if we sit and play songs that we like and get real enjoyment out if it that is more of a sit down PLEASURE session which is not the same as a sit down practice session.

I think that there is a lot to be gained by modifying your practice session but you must know which type of sit down session you are involved in and stick with it.

Years back ( 70's) a friend in Ct, a very quality and talented Steel and Guitar player, Ray Gantek, told me this.."Go home and practice one thing on your Guitar everyday for 30 days, perhaps 5 or 10 minutes every day, the exact same thing" .." At the end of the 30 days you will be a totally new player with at least that one thing you have been practicing"...

Then he said, and we laughed.. "You may still be a lousy player overall but not with that one thing you just practiced to death " !

Ray used to critique my playing in the clubs, he would tell me that I had good things that I was doing but the execution was lacking , he used to tell me that I sounded like a player that played every FRI and SAT but didn't practice technique at all during the week, just songs.

he used to say " You learned the song but didn't actually learn how to PLAY the song". I was just going thru the motions, once a week on Fri or Sat.

I hate it when someone is right Sad

I think thats where many of us are today...

My personal sit down sessions for the past two years has been repetitive things, over and over..I do sit down for the ENJOYMENT FACTOR every now and then but I generally reserve that for the gigs.

As far as the entertaining value..not sure about that ...I'll leave that to the one's listening !

tp

ps, Ray is in Florida now, he spent a good deal of time on the road with some Nashville types and he never actually had a DAY job..While I was at my 9 to 5 day job he was sitting around at home practicing Buddy Emmons songs, but he did gig probably 5 or 6 nights a week back then.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Tony P.,

I enjoyed reading your reply. Over time I've heard accounts of Ray Ganteck's musical prowess. I saw him in action in Wallingford, Ct. years ago where he teamed up with Berkley's protege' guitarist, Bobby Stanton to participate in a steel guitar show. When the smoke cleared, Ray was blazing away playing the "Orange Blossom Special". That in itself was worth the trip into southern Connecticut. "Scotty" was there, as well as many advanced steel guitarists from surrounding states. Scotty commented on Lloyd Green's "Bars Of Steel" played by a young Jimmy Roule Jr., who is now making waves around central MA, with his adaptation to the steel guitar. There are others, some of whom have departed from that particular part of the New England States. Ray G. now resides in Fla., Jim Smith, in Texas, Jay Andrews from R.I., now in Nashville, Tn. and more. Gordon Titcomb has circulated throughout the Ct. area, and he tends to a career in music, worthy of much respect. My good buddy Terry Sutton
is "holding the fort" in and around Ct., while keeping the tradition of one fine steel guitarist. I have a friend in Fla.,(Hank Sohl), who did a few shows with Ray recently in that area. Hank plays bass, and sings good country songs. Thanks again for the memory stimulation.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

"The practice of putting woman on a pedestal began to die out when it was discovered that they can give orders better from there" How true this is, my wife elected for us to take ballroom dancing lessons, I cleaned up and off we went, after a 2 hour practice class of the waltz, salsa, etc. my wife turned to me and said, for a guy that is musically inclined you have horrible rytheme, only to add on to that later in the car "that our pet cats have better rytheme." I was lost for words since one could not agrue the evidence.Bill it is important to practice but more so apply what you have learned even if your feet won't let you.

Gary Shepherd · From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA

Sometimes I'll play the same lick over and over until it's right. 100 times might do the trick and then again, it might not. Whatever it takes is generally what I try to do.

Then again, sometimes I just don't feel like it. I've been on spring break this entire week and haven't sat down at my guitar yet. But I do plan to.
_________________
Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10 & Peavey Nashville 1000

www.16tracks.com

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

I wonder how many know that Ray while playing in Myrtle Beach was offered a job with an up and coming house band on the strip. I forget the name of the band but I Think it was named after a state that begins with A and ends with A. Wink

I had the pleasure of having Ray work a couple of weekends with me he is just awesome. And speaking of Awesome Jimmy Roule, Jimmy Smith what great memories these two have given me.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

A.J.,

Every steel guitarist dances to a different drummer. Never are there two alike in their individual preferences. Therefore, a system or plan of action would be accepted by some, but not by others. Nothing is more rewarding than compliance and determination, that can be related to a popular consensus written by successful steel guitarists. To walk the walk of those who succeed, may prove to be one of the best methods for reaching goals. A steady practice routine, is by far, the first order of self-discipline in getting things done.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Ray M.,

Perhaps the quality of time spent trying to arrange a given melody to where it flows evenly, with absolute precision of bar placements, is best. There is a sustaining quality that can be drawn upon, to satisfy those who may be halted, while searching for that perfect blending of notes. That of course, would be pedal and knee lever references where all of the distinctions of playing steel guitars originates. Training the feet to respond accordingly, to mental impulses is necessary, which boils down to fancy footwork, in layman's terms. Numerous distractions that account for a flawed, or blemished train of thoughts, can be regarded as a possible determent to advancements. Certainly, the quality of a particular practice session, is measured by gains that register as something new, pleasing, and useful. Possessing the grit to stick with a determination that "practice makes perfect", carries farther than all other methodologies combined. A player should engage in an independent exploration of methods, that delves into remote areas of specialized searches. By not allowing distractions to reduce the determination effect, increased levels of success may be realized. THAT would be considered worthwhile practice, considering that other benefits would be forthcoming, should a player develop a long-standing "affiliation" with established ground rules. Avoiding the distraction element is worth considering. Determination remains as the master key for opening the secrets of the steel guitar.

Dave Boothroyd · From: Staffordshire Moorlands

Our guest speaker at College two weeks ago was an orchestral violinist. She plays in two of our top symphony orchestras, and has done film scores of the calibre of Star Wars and Harry Potter. So she is pretty much at the top of her profession.
Someone asked if she had an ambition to be a soloist.
"Oh no!" she said, "I wouldn't want to have to practice that much every day. To work at my level, I only need to do four or five hours. A top soloist will need to practice eight or nine hours a day. Plus they would need a better violin, mine is OK, but it's only worth about £50,000 (about 100,00 dollars). A good one will cost ten or fifteen times that"
a little humbling, isn't it?
Cheers
Dave

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Dave B.,

I've experienced the humbling feeling years ago. There was a widow who lived in my hometown in the Berkshires, a number of years ago. She inherited her husband's violin after his passing. It was a genuine Stradivarius, made by Antonio Stradivari. So much time has passed since my employer chauffeured the lady to her island retreat in Florida one cold January Day. My employer's wife was too ill to ride, and she was flown down by plane. I was hired to meet with my employer in Fort Meyers, Fla. towing his Airstream Trailer. They planned to use the aluminum housing while spending time there. Upon returning to my place of work, I learned of the widow's valuable possession. Rather humbling indeed! I often wonder who gained ownership of the instrument. Having the finances to purchase such an instrument, is humbling to one who cannot rush out, and make purchases as needed.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Hi Joe C.,

Keeping a tight rein on Jimmy Roule Jr. wasn't easy. He's always ready to explode out of the starting gate, like a thoroughbred to meet any steel related challenge. I know that you stood next to him on many occasions singing those Ray Price tunes, while getting him primed for his uptempo instrumentals. I've watched him move the fellow steel players, while giving 110% to entertain. If there is a category of overdrive musicians, Jim would fit right in.
When the weather improves, I'll swing out to that Chicopee, MA, nightspot to pick up on his latest techniques, since last hearing him play.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Dispensing with forum fodder of late, has netted only minimal responses. I've noticed that there are shades of restiveness, that obviously contribute to a reluctance to participate in basic language exchanges. With a little experience, anyone can separate good, better, and best. Very few will argue the benefits of a determination that is applied to learning the steel guitar. Even fewer numbers will discuss the levels of determinations, as they exist.

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