Practicing when......not practicing!

[ColdBuffet]

What are some things I can practice/learn when I'm not playing my horn? I feel like I'm wasting so much time on the computer (I WOULD be on my horn, but its too late to play and it will 'disturb neighbors' as my parents would put it) when I could be learning or practicing something musically. Learning theory is the obvious thing but I don't want to just read and read and read and keep reading theory. Maybe just reciting all the scales in all keys in my head? Naming all the chord voicings? What else do you guys do when not with your instruments?

Thanks.

[tweebinmusic]

1) Rhythmic stuff.
You can practice all sorts of rhythmic stuff, from transcription, to reading, to working on conceptual processes like hemiola and superimpositions. Download a metronome and try out some ideas... You can do konnakol (search the forum) or just beat out independant rhythms between your hands.

2) Learn the changes to songs! You can memorize them in terms of their harmonic function and then recite them or write them back out in different keys. This is a great way to apply theory in a practical way, and you will find that once you complete this process it is very difficult to forget how a song goes.

3) Sight-sing and transcribe... get a connection happening between the names of notes and the sounds of notes... if you can already do this, try it on a harder level, sing harder intervals, listen to denser harmonies.

4) LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN..

to everything stuff you like, stuff you don't like, jazz, classical, hip-hop...
it all helps in one way or another... take time to listen for detail and context, and when you have an idea about music, let it happen, and when you don't just relax and keep listening.

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Sometimes you will feel more creative, and sometimes more methodical.
You can make sure you always have something to practice by having a task that suits both on hand. Usually this will lead to cross-stimulation and intergration of those two processes, which is an integral part of learning to play music, especially jazz.

[EdByrne]

1. Analyze tunes you need to learn: form, melodic development, chord syntax, key relationships.

2. Transcription: Start with licks you like by your favorite recording artist--or 1 entire solo.

3. Composition: Start with the various blues forms; create your own version.

4. (Softly) Sing: Transcriptions; Internalize a new tune; Practice singing improvisations; learn your own licks, etc.

[bossman]

Singing is great when you're on the computer- just make a playlist of standards and put them on shuffle and try to sing the head in tune, you can even do it with half concentration, as long as you're trying to stay in tune-ish.

I tend to (unconsciously) play things while I'm watching tv or sitting in class at school or on the bus or stuff, I just kind of pretend i have my sax in my hands. Sometimes I consciously practice basic stuff like scales and arps, or sometimes patterns and such. The downside is that if you're unsure of the notes, you can't fall back on hearing them as wrong. You have to know. Also, you MUST check it out the next day to make sure it's clean and everything.

Another thing I do is try to really slowly sing something while again playing it on my invisible horn. I have perfect pitch- although it takes me some time and it's related to the note on my horn- so I can just start on a note and hear it in my head/sing it. So start from one note that you know the pitch of and can sing it. Then start singing a line and essentially transcribe your voice onto your horn. You'll eventually get really fast.

[bluenote82]

I listen to jazz music when I'm not practicing. I listen to horn players, pianists, guitarists, etc. I tend to listen to trumpeters the most, even though my instrument is the guitar. I love the trumpet and I really listen to how they play their notes. When I'm listening to pianists, I'm constantly listening for new and exciting chord voicings. I remember one time I was listening to Bill Evans (I think his album "You Must Believe In Spring) and he played this chord that I really loved, so I immediately quit listening and picked my guitar up and tried to find that chord. I finally found it after 10 minutes!

Anyway, my whole thing is just listening and analyzing the music I'm listening to. Figuring out the sounds that I like and would like to try and play. From listening comes inspiration and hopefully it will send you off in different directions.

[Jakeweiser]

I'm always listening when I'm not actively practicing.

The only thing I do right now away from my instrument is sit down with the Bergonzi Rhythm book and tap/clap out rhythms from random pages for a while.

Some great suggestions on this thread, very interesting.

[Phat Boi]

1.) ear training. clappin rhythms, singing solefege, singing chords/progressions, sight singin, and learning sole fa.

2.) writing interval patterns without playing them then playing them.

3.) more ear training?

4.) compose or arrange some stuff. reharmonize stuff too?

5.) more ear training?

[Slant]

Hey, if you don't want to disturb people, but you DO want to play, maybe you should get a good keyboard w/ a nice set of head phones. PLAY ALL NIGHT!!

[ColdBuffet]

Yep great suggestions. Thanks.

[harmolodic]

What is your instrument? I could give you some brass tips...I think you just said "horn."

[Paul Chambers]

Here's a great site that I'm always on when it's "too late" to play.

Here! (http://jazzpracticeloops.com/about/index.htm)

[Jakeweiser]

whoever lived upstairs from me moved out and the management has been renovating the place from like 8am until 4pm so I feel no guilt about practicing at 11pm turned up anymore :)

I never got complaints and I've been in the apartment for a year. A good thing to do is test the waters, afterall you never know what some people will put up with ;)

[engelbach]

Here's a great site that I'm always on when it's "too late" to play.

Here! (http://jazzpracticeloops.com/about/index.htm)

Nice idea, that site.

Stick with the plain exercise loops. The standards backings have some wrong changes and My Romance is missing half of the second A section.

[ColdBuffet]

What is your instrument? I could give you some brass tips...I think you just said "horn."

Sorry, I don't play brass. I play alto saxomophone.

[Paul Chambers]

Sorry, I don't play brass. I play alto saxomophone.

What's an alto saxomophone? :D
Well, I guess you mean alto saxophone and that is a brass instrument.

[EdByrne]

What's an alto saxomophone? :D
Well, I guess you mean alto saxophone and that is a brass instrument.

While the saxophone is made of brass, it is a relatively recently-developed hybred. It is considered to be a woodwind instrument due to its mouthpiece and fingering system, which is related to woodwinds such as the clarinet and flute. All, however, are "mo'pho's." :elephant: :D :dill: :banana: :tanz:

[Paul Chambers]

While the saxophone is made of brass, it is a relatively recently-developed hybred. Tt is considered to be a woodwind instrument due to its mouthpiece and fingereing system, which is related to woodwinds such as the clarinet and flute. All, however, are "mo'pho's." :elephant: :D :dill: :banana: :tanz:

Shit, that's right. I wasn't really paying attention while reading Cold Buffet's post and typing my own post. I have been busy all day working on the computer and typing up stuff, it makes you nuts by the time your done.