I made a commitment to myself awhile back to practice every day. My goal was two hours a day. Not up to professional levels (I once heard Leo Kottke say he practices eight hours a day), but it was a bigger commitment than I’d made for years. And it has paid off.
Yesterday, I just wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t seem to be in the proper frame of mind. But I had made a commitment to myself and didn’t want to weasel out of it. I decided to compromise. I would do my warm up and a few minutes of scale and arpeggio studies just to keep my hands in shape. I sat down, and before I knew it, an hour and a half had passed.
If I had let myself slip yesterday, it would have been that much easier to not practice today. Did I reach my goal of two hours? No. But I did keep my promise. Practice doesn’t have to be a huge commitment. The importance is keeping it regular–15 Â minutes a day is enough. How much time can you spare every day to be a better guitarist?
Good reminder that excellence is always worth the effort…and a commitment is a commitment! Congratulations on keeping yours!