Measuring Practical Perseverance

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Lately, my perseverance levels in steel guitar practice sessions, have taken an upswing, like a kite caught in a gust of wind. I'm wondering if any forum members have had a like experience?

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 25 October 2006 at 06:58 PM.]

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

tie a key to that kite, then fly it during a lightning storm and see if that helps the upswing!

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Everything comes and goes in cycles.
Energy, inspiration, health, focus, available time.

Sometimes external, and sometimes internal cycles,
throw of steady progress
and affect applied perserverance.

But you show greater perserverance on those down cycles,
to keep up the same rate of progress,
than the up cycles, when it all seems easy.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 25 October 2006 at 08:24 PM.]

Billy Joe Bailey · From: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Ive been reading so much on the forum lately where the young folks dont want us old steelplayers anymore, it just makes me want to woodshed harder.
Who knows I still may wind up on the Ed Sulivan show.

Darryl Hattenhauer · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

This is a very important topic. I wish I had a good answer. I'm going to ask a couple of music teachers I know about what keeps people going.

I know what Bill means about feeling like you don't make it happen. It feels like the playing is making me happen. Oddly enough, I've never thought about how to keep that motivation going. But it definitely is cyclical.

As far as making it happen, I fill out a schedule for each week and schedule everything in. When it comes time to practice, I "play" (hah!) for about 45 minutes and then take a break. I work more and better if I take breaks. On the other hand, if the 45 minutes aren't up, I make myself stick with it. But this has mostly to do with banjo, mando, and 6 string. I don't know what it's like to be a competent steel player. I know the other instruments, so I'm practicing what I know. But on steel, I am a student who is fascinated because it's like a huge subject of math, physics, engineering, and athletics. So my motivation on steel has more to do with curiosity.

When I was hitting in baseball, sometimes the ball looked as big and slow as a rising moon. Other times it looked like a jet-powered aspirin. I used to try to figure out if diet, sleep, work etc. had anything to do with it. But pitching was like steel: it was much more complex, more like something I studied.

I'm going to be thinking about this and asking people. I hope everybody chips in: students, pros, teachers, etc.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 25 October 2006 at 11:04 PM.]

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Trying to play a wide variety of types of music (however poorly) gives me a wider choice of practice options to draw on, which keeps me going longer. Obviously, you have to listen to different stuff too... long enough to hear some content and building blocks within that genre, and areas of interest that apply to you. I have a couple of different, relatively easy ways to apply drastic or subtle changes in tone, effects etc. - this can keep me going for a while too, sometimes just turning on a single, long echo on my Lexicon 110 or Genesis 3 can lead me up an avenue I hadn't thought of.

The coffee bean is a fantastic invention too.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I tend to agree with Donald L. Right now I'm in a 'down cycle' but I know that when I start back up I'll be inspired to learn some new stuff so I don't tend to worry bout it too much.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Andy S.,

Your profile shows that you are a retired fireman, and that leads me to assume that a "down cycle" at your formerly assigned position; was unaffordable. The immensity of raging grass fires, nipping at million dollar homes, illustrates a dire need to succeed in quelling the blaze. Likewise, assigning a nonchalant attitude during practice, reflects indifference, which remains the stumbling block on the road to success. Practice is a serious approach to achieve high levels
of expertise, and certainly not intended to downplay its significance, as the most effective means of steel guitar progressiveness. Procrastination is burdensome, as it lies dormant in a panoramic field of dreams. Tenacious pickers develop skills to avert the common adversative modality. By all means, don't lose the will to succeed while practicing.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

excellent topic.

Me, I can go a few days without playing at all..but when I sit down I generally play the exact same things over and over again..and then embellish on those same things..adding to..or subtracting from.

I play over two home grown tracks each time I sit..Momma Tried and Long Black Limo..

for me both offer the opportunity to grow with new phrases while executing the familiar phrases.

It's not necessarily the two songs but rather the phrasing that goes with the chord structures, and I happen to really like playing over these two tracks so it kinda makes it fun too, not only work.

Now this isn't the only thing I work on but it is primary..

Playing an Instrument is no different than anything else..

repetition...

If you sit down and play one thing 10 min everyday for 30 days, at the end of the 30 days there will be astonishing results.

If you do it for months on end........

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 October 2006 at 05:32 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 26 October 2006 at 05:34 AM.]

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Billy Joe B.,

In the previous reply I left out germane incidentals, as I entered a course of analogies in regard to firefighters. My late father-in -law was a career fireman, retiring as a lieutenant. My wife's grandfather was a captain here in Pittsfield. Having said that, my main interest is directed to the erroneous assumption that age related changes, in hirable steel guitarists, isn't plausible; IMO. "The older the violin, the sweeter the music", still applies. It will continue to remain as factual as long as the steel guitar is the chosen instrument. We are at a point in time, whereas experience, and the development of exceptionally fine steel guitars, are merging into an
apex of musical excellence. I'm not easily buffaloed into thinking otherwise. I'm impressed by your thoughts of practice.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 26 October 2006 at 09:04 AM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Dave,
Yes, it works for me too if I practice a song or lick in different ways, but that's mostly with banjo, mando, and 6 string. With steel, I get motivated by putting on an instruction CD or DVD. Like you, a lot of times I'm just just trying to get tone. That's because I'm better at appreciating steel than playing it. I remember a half century ago when I thought that banjo was complex and I was inspired by the tone.

Andy,
Yes, I can play old faves on banjo and then get something very new on steel. In addition to getting inspired by something new, do you get motivated by playing old stuff that you know?

Bill,
I believe you're right about procrastination. When I find that I'm feeling guilty about putting something off, I do it soon because I have to do it anyway, so it's a choice between doing it and being glad I'm done, or feeling guilty and then doing it.

Tony,
It's proven that you're right about playing a little every day. With learning almost anything, you'll learn faster with ten minutes a day rather than seventy minutes on one day. Or you're better with an hour a day than with seven hours on one day, etc.

Billy and Bill,
You betcha. Experience usually tops youth. In baseball, your physical peak is at about twenty-six, but the average player gets better after that age.

And for Mr. Hall, my 8th grade science teacher, thanks for saying, "The difficult we do right away. The impossible takes a little longer."

And for Mr. Leavitt, my football coach, "Don't cheat yourself."

I post things like that at home, at work, and even in the car.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 26 October 2006 at 09:48 AM.]

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Darryl Hattenhauer · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Ray,
I also enjoy being a multiple personality because I'm never alone. But being obsessive-compulsive costs me a lot in soap.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Out spot, out!

Just because the spot is in your mind,
doesn't make it any less annoying!

Billy Joe Bailey · From: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Bill David Toney Darrle Andy and to who every may want to join this little chat.
the most of us I would supose, are seasoned veterans steel players
We've already gotten pass the idear of Nashvill Branson- Dollywood --Hollywood You Can Be A Star
And you don't have to admit it but alot of you are thinking about not playing in those smokey honkytonks anymore I serve my time, and my lungs are cleaner now
and I have'nt smoked a cigarette in five years, at which I thank God for.
But one thing I do everyday except on Sunday is play my steel,and this is my main subject.
I have a little house built out back of the main house and I spend a great deal of time there with all my Jeff Neman videos -Paul franklin study tapes and some other folks I jump from E-9 to C-6 from country to pop to Blue's
to what ever--- when I say this I really Don't know because I stop listoning to radio years ago
The more I learn on C6 the greater determenation I have. If that anitspelled right, look it up for me Ha Ha.
Toney you were talking about working on the song Mamma tried ,you go over and over it, till you ani't got to think about it.
It makes me think about some of this Jeff Newman tab--stuff that used to be so hard but its finely comeing around but not as I'd like.
I think I could play to the cats and the dogs and the squirrels , I dont all the time need people to entertain, I just injoy making music out back if I never get dicover HA HA
They say in the article about Chuck Berry
that he had a steel guitar do you supose he could play Johnny B Good on it like Jeff Neman Well I've done gone to meteling
I am now injoy playing with a little gospel band my only complaint would be we just dont play enough to suit me God Bless

[This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 26 October 2006 at 10:16 PM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Billy Joe makes an important distinction.

Maybe you players who get paid have an extra incentive. If you're playing full-time and don't have another job, do you have more time to play? But do you have to play what other people want, so you have to keep up on all the latest whether you like it or not? How do you pros feel about this?

You guys who have a part-time music job and another full-time job, are you run ragged with so much work?

But for those of us (like me) who already have a full-time and are old and aren't aiming to be pros don't have that economic incentive. On the other hand, we have more leeway in playing what we want (or trying to play we want).

So the motive for the two groups are different, no? I can't imagine being able to play professionally, or having to play professionally.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

[This message was edited by Darryl Hattenhauer on 26 October 2006 at 11:03 PM.]

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Bill, I hear what your sayin. After retiring from the hectic and sometimes very stressful pace of the fire service It took me a long time to learn to do things in a more relaxed and peaceful way. I find that when I'm in a down cycle I need to do other things for a while then when I get back into the steel playin I'm more productive than when I just try to force myself to pratice. I tend to practice and play for weeks at a time before I get into my down cycle so for me it's a relaxed and still productive schedule.

Darryl, I do get inspired to learn new things after my little breaks and also get a lot of satisfaction from playin stuff I know and tryin to maybe play certain parts a little different or even try and learn the same song on C6.

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Nothing surpasses the inducement to better learning, than a rousing discovery of a something "new". Determination increases the chances of unexpected rewards, which in turn enhances the displeasure of abandoning the steel for one moment. Depending on the magnitude of the enlightenment, wild horses will be hard pressed, to dissuade an avid steel guitarist at practice, to pull away. The novice and token browser, who trends haphazardly, will never share in the rewards, manifested by a deliberate search that extends far beyond the average levels of perseverance. Dismal approaches to steel guitar advancements, can be transformed into an intractable and steadfast gaining of motivation. If one is so inclined to appreciate the obvious potential of the steel guitar, extended practice sessions will hasten the likelihood, of a musical adeptness becoming a reality. The steel guitar represents a challenge of substance, featuring a mind and body work order, that requires a persistent determination to succeed.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

the more you sit and play / study repetitive phrases on any Instrument, especially in redundant positions, the more familiar you become with the tonality, and where the phrases come from etc.. then at some point you hear music perhaps on the radio , and

magic..

You already know it and where it comes from.

Actually it's not magic..
it's routine and discipline along with the wanna' factor.

It's not the amount of time you practice everyday..

it's WHAT you practice....and your routine...

What is your Goal ?

I read an entire book last night in prep for a test..

But did I read the RIGHT book ?

Billy Joe Bailey · From: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

I recall back when I first come alone in the steel guitar world 1989 so you might say I'm still a baby.
Anyway while attending one of Jeff Newmans class's, he made this statement,
There are steelguitar players and then there are people who own a steelguitar,which are you?
At the time I was a middle ages man that own a steelguitar????????? Now I'm an old man been thru serval guitars in 18 years,,,,I have two double necks now .The thing I want to know is this according to the dictionary
A professional is one who makes his livivg at somethig. Well so what at onetime I was a professional plummer and raise a family on my hard eaned pay.And I'm sure that there are some Docters Lawers And Indian chief in this crowd ,,,,but just think how we all fell in love with steel guitar and have one equal bond I will not apologize for my mispelled word ,,,,blamed it on my dear friend and brother Joe Casey who said it was ALRIGHT

[This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 27 October 2006 at 11:50 AM.]

[This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 27 October 2006 at 11:52 AM.]

[This message was edited by Billy Joe Bailey on 27 October 2006 at 11:58 AM.]

Darryl Hattenhauer · From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Billy,

I say it's all right too.

Are you retired? I hope when I retire I can be a full-time player, but I doubt I could get good enough in my 70s, so there won't be any pressure on me. I can play what I want.

I was watching that Tommy White DVD last night, and he said he practices speed drills every day. I hope I get that problem someday, but I probably won't.

That's not going to stop me from enjoying it. I enjoyed playing baseball after I was no good and the pressure was off. I still enjoy plinking with a revolver even though my hands shake now. I imagine Jeff thought it was fine for us who can't really play to be a steel owner.

Hey you other guys: how does perseverance happen with your learning and practicing? If you're a rookie like me, speak up. Nobody here will look down on you because they all had to learn too.

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"I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back." --Henny Youngman

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Billy; the statement they make during the NFL football games on TV kinda got me to thinkin' about my steel playing...

Amateurs practice until they get it right,
professionals practice until they can't get it wrong...

Wish I had more hours in a day...

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Like a beacon on a distant shoreline that is constant, and not allowing drifting pessimism to conceal its beams, I'll press on by reinforcing this topic. The merry-go-round of topics that zero in on issues, that fall short of enlightenment, have been known to successfully explicate its premises by resorting to marathon discourses. Those who unintentionally supersede important issues, in reality, nurture and diminish a realistic approach to appreciable gains throughout the s.g. industry. The steel guitar offers an extremely healthy challenge to those who are drawn to its exclusive phonic attributes. I'm thinking that the sudden realization of its awesome challenges, reflects the determination of the masters, who have conquered the instrument, by reaching high levels of expertise. Any hopes of following their steps to a similar embarkation, will inevitably require the zeal and tenacity of a pit bull.
Challenges are widespread through sporting events, endurances, wittiness, and multiples of related public interests, including musical endeavors. This is where the steel guitar makes its way through the chaff of lesser challenges, by "introducing" hopefuls to a time consuming pursuit with many rewards. Each reward realized by an unfaulting dedication to become triumphant in a worthwhile goal. A regular day job places special demands upon a concerted effort to be "somebody" playing steel guitar. If the day job is physically exhausting, naturally, the energy required to maintain a daily practice routine, will detract from zealous intentions to succeed. Jobs requiring less physical drain, and may indirectly allow for concentrating on past musical achievements, without affecting job performances, are more ideal for the budding steel guitarist. In other words, I think it would be safe to say, oil and water don't mix. The slow and steady playing style of the determined group, could wax into a melodious and entertaining series of events. Those "attuned" musically to the concept of a rigid practice routine, will reach the goals of primal interest, as compared to the lagging lot who have adapted a casual interest in progressiveness.
Edited for corrections..

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 28 October 2006 at 04:38 AM.]

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 28 October 2006 at 04:42 AM.]

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 28 October 2006 at 05:20 AM.]

Randy Beavers · From: Lebanon,TN 37090

Everyone seems to have a deadline for learning something. I've seen countless times when a student would try a new idea and give up on it within seconds. The old familiar "I can't do that." Then I've witnessed those that don't know how to quit on something. They will stay with something until they get it, no matter how long it takes. You can guess who some of these people are.

I think we all have a "deadline" attitude when it comes to learning something. Some much shorter than others. But what does it matter if it takes you a year to master one song or technique? Where will you be musically if you don't?

I remember an old saying, "I'd rather shoot for the moon and end up with stardust, than aim for the ground and hit it."

Bill Hankey · From: Pittsfield, MA, USA

Randy B.,

Thanks for carrying the torch that symbolizes real adaptation to a persistant and unerring approach to steel guitar expertise. It's a rare treat to read even a brief exhortation on perseverance, from a learned steel guitarist.

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