Take a Break

After practicing your ass off for a long time, take a break from practicing.

And there are three ways to do this.

1. Don’t play at all.
2. Play, but don’t practice.
3. Just light maintanance practice.

Each have there benefits.

1. Don’t play at all. For a day or two. I think two is the longest I’ve gone. You might try longer, it might work, I just haven’t done it. You get some perspective on things. Also, things gel that you’ve been working on. And come back when you start up again, things will be in your playing and come out naturally. Somehow, I need the separation sometimes to make it mine.
2. Play, but don’t practice. This is really great and can be done for longer periods, weeks even. So, you’d better be gigging or have a lot of playing sessions during this period, or it doesn’t really work. Playalongs might even work, but play for a hour or two, or three and just play. Don’t practice. Be free.
3. Just light maintenance practice. This can go with #2, or just be like a half-way version of #1. Just do basic fundamentals to keep chops up, usually not more than an hour, and don’t try to add new stuff.

Ok, I’ll flesh it out more later.

peas