Musicians' Schedule
by Malcolm Lynn Baker
Notes from a lecture delivered to the Lamont School of Music Jazz Studies
and Commercial Music Program
Jazz and Commercial Music Performance Class, March 1997
You're a Professional
Treat your daily schedule like a work day, because you are now joining
the musical work force, that's what you're doing here. You're not just
going to school like you used to, you've made the decision to make music
your profession and must treat your work days professionally.
Your Goals are to:
-
Practice one hour per day for every hour of lesson that you take for credit
(e.g., 2 cr. lessons means 2 hrs. a day of practice, 4 cr. lessons means
4 hrs. a day).
-
For every "academic" class devote one hour outside of class studying for
each hour you spend in class (e.g., class meets for an hour on Monday and
Wednesday, spend two hours a week studying that material, preferably on
the days that the class meets so the material will be fresh in you mind).
-
Attend every rehearsal having already prepared the music for that rehearsal
(this can be accomplished during your daily practice time).
-
Set aside "personal" time for the following:
-
Sleep (about 8 hrs. a night, as you need it)
-
Personal Hygiene (e.g., shower, brush your teeth, etc.)
-
Eating
-
Set aside some time each day just to be a human being. In the end, the
most important aspect you will bring to your music is your personality...
develop it.
OK, Here's The Math
Based on the priotized activities above, here's how the hours of your day
will be occupied:
| Activity |
Hours |
| Practicing |
4 |
| Class |
2 |
| Study |
2 |
| Rehearsals |
5 |
| Sleep |
8 |
| Personal Hygiene |
1 |
| Eating |
1 |
| Personal Time |
1 |
| Total |
24 |
This is obviously a highly idealized time organization that will not work
for everyone on every day. You may not need 8 hrs. of sleep, need to spend
a some time working, have more than 5 hrs. of rehearsal a day, should not
practice 4 hrs. a day, etc. However, the act of prioritizing your day and
scheduling your time will be very helpful. Also, this schedule gives you
at least two days a week to catch up on things that were not given appropriate
time during the week... including personal time!
Some Hints
Here are some hints that may help you turn your ideal schedule into reality:
-
Functioning Your Best. Honestly evaluate yourself to find what time
of the day your concentration is highest and set that time aside for practicing.
Your practice time is one of the most important aspects of your training
and one of the few aspects that you control... use it wisely by practicing
when your mental abilities are at their peak.
-
Analyze Your Strengths and Weaknesses. A few moments of thoughtful
consideration is worth an hour of practice. Your practice sessions will
be much more productive if you are not practicing mistakes.
-
When To Practice. Make a ritual of practicing at the same time every
day, whatever time of day that is. Many people find that practicing early
in the day has several advantages: it gives you a good reason to get out
of bed because you're doing something you enjoy, it gives you a good outlook
on the rest of the day because you've already accomplished something important
before you even go to class, and it leaves you time to recover from the
physical and mental stress of practicing so that you have the time and
energy to return to practice later in the day.
-
Practice Your Ensemble Music. This not only makes rehearsals more
productive but provides a meaningful break from your lesson material. You
will probably find that practicing ensemble music brings to life materials
you are working on in etudes and exercises, making practicing those etudes
more fun and meaningful.
-
Be Realistic. Have realistic expectations for all of your studies.
This does not mean that you should not expect as much as you do now, in
some cases you should expect more! In either case, be patient, all musicians
are in a constant state of apprenticeship to music.
-
Ask Your Teachers. The musicians you are studying with have already
been down many of the same paths you are taking now, use their experience.
And don't stop with your private teacher, many times teachers of other
instruments will have helpful insights. Ask them how to approach practicing
in general and conquering specific problems. You will find they have a
variety of approaches that will make your practice time more effective.
-
Take Care of Your Own House First. Don't be concerned about what
others are practicing, or criticize colleagues for their shortcomings.
Nobody is perfect but if we all give our best efforts we will all rise
to meet our potential. A positive work environment generates positive outcomes.
-
Take Care of Your Mind and Body. In the schedule above there are
11 hours a day to take care of your personal, non-musical concerns... observe
these hours. Without a healthy body, mind, and spirit your musical growth
will be very slow (and your pulse potentially nonexistent!).
-
Train Your Ear and Your Mind. This is more than studying your ear
training, sight singing, theory, and history assignments, it is your key
to a deeper understanding of music and musical performance. Listen attentively
during all your practices and rehearsals, making judgements about harmonies,
styles, rhythms and intonations. Develop your sight singing and pitch/rhythm
imagination, this is one of the greatest aids in your musical development
and will make your practice and rehearsal time much more effective.
-
Don't Be Afraid To Sound Bad. If you always sound good in the practice
room, you're not growing. Your practice time should be spent practicing
a combination of things you can do (to give yourself a model of success
upon which to build) and things you can't do (building on your own successful
model to gain new skills).
-
Balance Your Schedule. If the schedule above doesn't fit you exactly,
adjust it. But keep in mind that if you spend less than 12 hours a day
working on your school you're not taking care of business. If you don't
have 5 hours of rehearsal a day (which you probably won't) then spend those
extra hours in another aspect of your musical training, you already have
half the day to spend on your non-musical pursuits.
Vocation And Avocation
The 12 hour work day described above may seem a bit long for a typical
"work day," but the musician's schedule is not typical. Those hours that
you spend practicing and in rehearsal are spent doing the things you love,
that you've devoted your life to developing. Remember, you are among a
select group of people - your vocation and avocation are the same thing...
you play for a living!
© Malcolm Lynn Baker, 1997
I welcome your comments.
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