How much sleep will I get?!?!?!

[RICHBET]

I want to develop my ability more on the keyboard, but....

With trying to keep up with my family of four, working 50+ hours a week, weekly group bible studies, group music rehearsals....AND practicing 1 hour a day,

how do i fit it all in and get more than 4 hours of sleep a day?!?!

Is this normal for a new musician trying to learn?

Thanks for any comments.

[B3Wannabe]

Indeed!


You mean you get 4 WHOLE hours of sleep!!! You should be well rested then!!!


I just got 3 last night!


 :wink:  

[friedaddy]

I want to develop my ability more on the keyboard, but....

With trying to keep up with my family of four, working 50+ hours a week, weekly group bible studies, group music rehearsals....AND practicing 1 hour a day,

how do i fit it all in and get more than 4 hours of sleep a day?!?!

Is this normal for a new musician trying to learn?

Thanks for any comments.

Where I am right now, it is 1 am. I got home from rehearsal about an hour ago. I am about to go over a CD my man let me listen to, Leofric Thomas. (You have to buy this CD!!!! It is smoking) My schedule allows me to only get 6 hours at the most and that is if I don't stay up. It is all about desire. I choose to do this. I was asking this guy one time to show me how he did a progression. His response to me, you young guys don't want to do the work. He said that if you are not practicing at least 8 hrs a week, you are not working. I practice every chance I get because I know how I want to sound and I am nowhere near it yet. To me, it is normal. You can't expect growth if you are not sacrificing some time and burning that midnight oil... I got it so bad, I have a portable keyboard in my bathroom! I know, TMI.   The more familiar you become with the keys, the easier it will be to pick up on things. It works!

[JoyCH]

I agree with Fred:

Some weeks I work 60+ hours and some a little less. I try to plan  everything around my family and church services. But, there are times I will compromise.  :wink:  For instance, last Saturday I went to work early in the morning, ran to practice with Musmin7 in betw.  and went back to work. And went home and practice. You have to sacrifice some time.

If you can get a portable piano like suggested, get one and play on your lunch hour. Bring your lunch so you won't have to go out and practice in your car or a secluded area.

You have to make practice important as you would make anything else.

Joy

[RICHBET]

Thanks for the replies.  From the sound of it, if I want to get better I will just have prioritize and get used sleeping around 6 hours a night!!  Looks like I will be in good company!!

[Mysteryman]

Things I have tried before some are already mentioned.

Get one of those mini keyboards and practice in the car on a break.
Im learning the drums so I will tap out radio beats on the stirring wheel.
When listening to the radio practice the chord progressions in my mind.
Meditate on the piano chords before bed or at work.
Practice while watching tv. Set the keys facing the tv.
Practice playing repetitous chord movements while studying. I will put the book on the keyboard and read and play at the same time.  
I will turn the keyboard completey down in choir rehearsal or at church service and go over chord progressions. When people are talking not during the sermon.
I practice chord progressions in different keys while people are testifying. They think I'm just playing quiet chords but I'm actually practicing.
I do finger exercises while driving on the steering wheel. Especially the ring and pinky fingers.
You would probably not like this but I have heard of guitarist taping strong and weak fingers together and using it thoughout the normal day. An alternative I have tried is just to use my left hand instead of my RH for things I normally do. If you pick the mic up in your RH use your LH. If you are about to use a fork use you LH instead of your RH.
I think practice has alot to do with the brain being able to handle more information which results in memory.

[lilMsKiki]

I want to thank you for your effort in chording a lot of the songs I have found online.  Nice to see you here.  God bless!

[MewsikHarris32]

You're going to have to sacrafice some sleep, I'm learning that. But I'm not talking to the point where you can't function through the day, but at least give yourself the time to get some adequate practicing in.
Key Thing;
On those free days ( holidays, days off of work, etc)
Get out of bed like you were going to work, practice a bit, then go back to sleep ( or do what you initially planned to do that day) how many times do we regret just wasting the day by just lounging around not getting anything accomplished.
I practice during service sometimes, with the volume off and just working on my finguring. Or if im on the keyboard and not the organ, i put those one side of the miny headphone that go in your ear so no one can hear me, and i can still hear the word out of the other ear.

[BBoy]

Wow, it looks like you are really busy. I agree with the others, but to add on . . . you may have to scale something back.

Many times there is more available time than we think. Getting four hours of sleep a night is not healthy unless it is done very infrequently . . . your mind / mind will not be rested enough to absorb any new material.

It sounds like you are busy, but . . . . and only you can answer this; are you that busy? Is there somewhere you can be more efficient?

Now, if you only have 1 hour a day to practice (which really isn't enough if you want to improve any time soon) I suggest you really organize that one hour of time. Here are some suggestions:

1.) Take a month and try to reach this goal: first week: two new songs in the key of F; second week: one new song in the key of Bb, rehearse the two songs you learned in F; third week: Two new songs in the key of Eb; rehearse the three songs you learned in the past three weeks; fourth week: one new song in the key of Ab, rehearse any old song that you haven't perfected yet. The next month, add the key of C, and rehearse all the other material. In two months, you can play some songs in C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab. That is really good for only two months!

2.) Organize your practice hour. For the first 5 minutes, practice concert scales and blues scales; for the next ten minutes practice 251 and 736251 progressions; for the next 25 minutes learn new songs; for the last fifteen minutes practice shouting music. A pager, cell phone with an alarm, or plain old alarm clock will help you know when to transition from one phase of practice to another.

3.) Listen to the music you want to play when preparing dinner, in your car on the way to work, at your desk, when ironing clothes, etc . . . in other words, multitask whenever possible. Pop in to LGM on the lunch hour and print off a couple of new progressions to practice.

Hope this helps. As a Bible teacher, future PhD student and musician myself, I have learned that whenever you have a lot to accomplish and little time to accomplish that you have to let GOD give you a plan.

Be Blessed  

[BELLMS540]

 Wow! I feel relieve to know that I'm not the only one thats staying up all night. I'm at the piano atleast 7 hours a day. I'm a father of four and a active duty Marine. I have a hour and half lunch and usually go home to pratice for lunch. Also when I went to Iraq I took my daughter fischer prices keyboard to pratice scale. I think anyone who is hungry enough will make time. I love playing and hearing gospel and it have become very additive.
 
 

[FRANCHISER]

pleeeeease pray 4 me,my keyboard sits on my bed and i work 3rd shift so while im looking at my keyboard im also laying on my pillow and next thing i know( time to go to work )..sadly enough i"ve been in love with the hammond b3 since i was 6 im now 26. but this is my prayer 4 me and all of u whats to come is BETTAH than whats BEEN,keep workin hard because we know faith without works is dead!

[rjthakid]

I've been playing for 3 months.  A very sleepy 3 months.     I've been known to be at my church on the Organ till 11pm, 12pm, or 1am practicing......and still have to get up and go to work the next day.  Or I'll practice on my keyboard till 2-3am.

I sold my PSP to get money for instructional videos (GK 202, Urban Worship Classic, and The Real Deal: How to Play the Hammond B3)

I'm married with a daughter, so I wait till they're both asleep to practice.  I do this to make sure I spend time with them.  If i wasn't married, I'd leave work and go STRAIGHT to the church and hop on the Organ every day.

I'm currently trying to convince tha wife to let me buy a Hammond to put in tha back room.......Pray for me.  LOL

So no, you're not alone.  We're all falling asleep at our keyboards as you read this message.