| You've heard the 10,000 Hours Rule that's permeating | | | | The key to constant, continuous improvement is |
| public consciousness, right? That you need 10,000 | | | | making sure that your daily practicing is always |
| hours of practice to get truly great at something? Well | | | | challenging and that you are always including exercises |
| that was one of the conclusions of a study at the | | | | and material that stretch you as a player. If you use |
| Berlin Conservatory of Music by Dr Anders Ericsson. | | | | material that you are already familiar with and that you |
| Another important conclusion of that study was not | | | | can already play (e.g. scales) then you have drifted into |
| just that you needed 10,000 Hours of practice, but | | | | a Comfort Zone. And you'll make little or no progress |
| 10,000 hours of a specific kind of practice. Ericsson | | | | no matter how much practice time you put in. |
| called that Deliberate Practice and all bass players can | | | | I Want To Be A Rock Bass Player - Or a Reggae |
| use it to ensure that they make constant and | | | | Bass Player - Or a Funk Bass Player- Does This |
| continuous progress in their quest to learn how to play | | | | System Still Apply? |
| bass. | | | | It doesn't matter what type of bass player you want |
| Before we look at what Deliberate Practice is, let's | | | | to be, the system works by aligning your goals to a |
| quickly talk about what it isn't. | | | | sequential series of exercises that will allow you to |
| What Deliberate Practice Isn't | | | | achieve those goals over time. It works for any genre |
| If you're looking for a system that will make you better | | | | of music you wish to play in. |
| in 10 days, or 30 days, Deliberate Practice isn't it. It isn't | | | | If I Start Using Deliberate Practice Will I Still Need A |
| a pre-written, one size fits all practice routine that you | | | | Teacher? |
| can download from the old Interwebz and start | | | | If you're still in the early days of your journey learning |
| applying and see immediate results. | | | | how to play bass then you will still need a teacher. |
| So What Is Deliberate Practice? | | | | Having a teacher allows you to avoid the detours and |
| It's a system that any musician of any ability level can | | | | cul-de-sacs of unnecessary detours. A teacher can |
| use to structure their practicing routine. And Deliberate | | | | also help construct a Deliberate Practice orientated |
| Practice is designed so that if you follow its principles | | | | practice schedule. More advanced players will probably |
| then your musicianship will improve on a continuous | | | | be able to create their own schedules using these |
| basis. Not just for a week. Or a month. But you will | | | | principles. |
| continue to make progress as long as you use this | | | | How Will I Know I'm Getting Better? |
| form of practicing as the backbone of your practice | | | | One of the key principles is making everything in your |
| sessions. | | | | practice routine measurable in some way. Recording |
| If I Use Deliberate Practice How Good Will I Get? | | | | your practicing in a daily practice journal will allow you |
| You'll get a lot better. How much better you will | | | | to measure your progress by studying your practice |
| actually get will depend on you. And it will depend on | | | | journal. You will be able to see improvements in what |
| how much time you're prepared to put in. One of the | | | | you are playing NOW, versus what you were playing |
| conclusions of Ericsson's report was that it takes | | | | only a few weeks ago. |
| 10,000 hours of dedicated practicing to become a | | | | Why Deliberate Practice Is Important? |
| virtuoso. To put that figure into context, if you apply | | | | It's important because an understanding of the key |
| this for 3 hours a day, every single day, it will take you | | | | principles, and more importantly application of those |
| 10 years to accumulate your 10,000 hours. | | | | principles in your daily practice, will ensure that you can |
| Few of us have the discipline or the motivation to | | | | you are always moving forward on your how to play |
| clock up 10,000 hours. Despite that, using Deliberate | | | | bass journey. |
| Practice to guide your practicing will help you get | | | | Without this specific type of practicing and its guiding |
| better. And you will experience constant and | | | | principles you won't know what exercises in your |
| consistent improvement. | | | | practice routine are generating results and what |
| So How exactly Does This System Work? | | | | exercises are merely spinning wheels. |