Re: Practice, rehearse, perform

[Mark <sine@zerocrossing.net>]

There's not doubt that for me practice is about getting skilled enough
to play what I hear in my head.  On the other hand, I totally respect
someone like Beck, who while skilled, can go to grunge mode in a
heartbeat.  It largely depends on what you're trying to say.  If you're
talking about the heart of the sunrise, you probably should brush up on
your scales.  If you're talking about doing nitros in the cab of your
pickup, a bit of sloppyness is in order.

On loop practice, I feel that it's nearly as important to be dear to
your gear.  I took out the Repeater when I first got it and the show
didn't feel very good.  Now, it's like second nature to me.  I don't
have to think about it.  I can concentrate on playing.

Mark Sottilaro

Tim Nelson wrote:

>
>
> So when we talk about "practicing", how much of our response is
> influenced by that sort of cultural baggage? I think it's difficult to
> discuss the subject in a group without some sort of equivocation. Our
> definitions are bound to differ; some may see practicing as a way to
> develop manual agility and muscle memory so that it'll be simply
> easier to play the music they hear in their heads. To some, the notion
> may connotate a guy with a pointy headstock hunched over the Guitar
> Grimoire ripping scales.
>
> As loopers, "practice" can involve more, too, as the definitions and
> boundaries of our instruments are extended. I did a session a couple
> of