It’s almost time for to go perform at another festival, which means it’s time to get in shape! People who perform regularly need to stay in shape just like those who are learning. In fact, there’s a big resemblance in what they need to do.
During the several days before I go to play a show, I have to practice several ways:
First, over the last week or so before the show, I need to play all the songs and tunes we might be performing, several times for each one, so that I can play them without thinking. But this is low-pressure work, in the house, so I need something else: Second, I need to find places to pick informally with other people for hours, so that I can get in shape musically to play whatever I need to. But even this does not eliminate the need for: Third, finding some performing situations, even if I have to create them myself, in order to get used to playing my songs and tunes in front of an audience.
All three of these kinds of practice are essential, and all three are different from each other. When I practice at home, there’s no way to really work up the energy and physical playing-workout of a good picking evening, spending several hours with the instrument in my hands, constantly getting in shape. And even that kind of playing does nothing to prepare me for getting in front of an audience. There’s no substitute for THAT! — the only way to practice performing is to perform. So during the last weeks before a festival, I stay pretty busy musically.
This applies to when you’re learning music, too. When learning to play bluegrass, and beginning to play music with others, you need different kinds of practice! First of all, you have to learn your tunes from lessons or DVDs, and practice them at home. Second, you need to play the tunes over and over without even having to think about them, so that you can play them in front of other people! Play them 10 times each, and then keep playing! And third, you need to practice all your tunes STANDING UP, because the feel of your hands, and the weight and sound of the instrument, are so different when standing compared to when you’re sitting down. When you practice, no slumping in a chair or half-lying on the bed while you go through your tunes one or two times each! You have to STAND UP and PLAY AND PLAY if you’re really going to learn to play music with others, which is the goal of so many of us in this kind of music.
That’s the lesson for today! –See you at the shows!
