Bluegrass High''s and Low's

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The Practice Group

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For/to help beginners/improvers indulging in deliberate practice to improve their banjo playing. An open group.

88 Members, Created 11/6/2017 -

Administrators: AndyW (owner) , Boadicea , WayneConrad

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From Banjojono on 11/19/2017 1:45:05 PM

I've been learning bluegrass banjo for around a year and it's like driving a bumpy road. You get the high's where everything goes right and you feel you've achieved, then other days you feel you've fallen back and your technique has lapsed and got worse. Well, that's how I feel anyway.

I seem to have got to a certain level and I'm stuck at that level and not improving. However, saying that, I did feel that way 6 months back and out of the blue I suddenly improved. So maybe I'm just being impatient with myself and trying to run before I can walk. No matter what, I'm not giving up. In fact I don't think I can. I find the banjo so addictive it takes will power to not play it every spare moment I get. :D

6 Comments
	Boadicea says: 11/19/2017 4:54:26 PM You are not alone @Banjojono! I certainly have my ups and downs with my banjo playing journey. I make all this progress, and then it is like I have done no practising, and it all falls away. I practise something really hard, and it is like I haven't done any work on that piece, and then like you I suddenly can do a chord change so much quicker, and I am amazed.
	WayneConrad says: 11/19/2017 9:22:15 PM Oh yeah, you are not alone. This is really common. I experienced it, and still do. For me, it happens less often than it used to, and is less pronounced. If it goes that way for you, then you can look forward to not suffering through it so much after a while. It seems to be a "thing" that much improvement happens between practice sessions. Now that I recognize this, I'm not frustrated by a practice session that seems to go nowhere. The next day I'm usually better at the thing I was seemingly going nowhere on. So don't get frustrated if a practice session doesn't see you improving much. Wait until the next session--you might be better at it.
	Banjojono says: 11/20/2017 3:06:16 AM Glad to hear it's not just me then. I was concerned that maybe I was doing something wrong or maybe the banjo wasn't for me as much as I love it. One thing I read recently about practising which I am guilty of is, don't keep practising things you are good at. It's the things you have trouble with that need practise to move forward. Also, I fall into the trap of trying to play too fast. So from now on my practise will consist of: 1. Working on phrases I have difficulty with 2. Slow down speed of playing. 3. Try and make notes of even and clear tone. 4. Use a metronome for timing 5. Periodically record ones self to evaluate progress and any issues that need more practise. If anyone can add any good points please feel free. Hopefully this will make the most of my future practise time.
	Judith511 says: 11/20/2017 3:25:03 PM I understand what you mean. Sometimes it just seems like I have gotten worse instead of better but you know sometimes when thing go wrong and it gets hard you are just on the verge of a breakthrough in your learning. :). That is what I try and tell myself. Sometimes taking a day off has good benefits to as I seem to play better after a short rest, like maybe it has sunk in to my fingers while they have been resting. :D
	StuartJohn says: 11/21/2017 3:47:36 PM I would also add going over stuff you've already learnt. Re-visiting these areas re-enforces the basics and makes for better progress, but I like your list :)
	Boadicea says: 11/21/2017 4:06:12 PM I like your list as well @Banjojono! Great strategy - what is hardest - walk bravely towards it and embrace it, and keep on keeping on. Warm up, limber up & good practising and/or passionate playing to one and all today!
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