Artistically Managing Goals And Incentives

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 Jul 2009 2:40 am

I've found that while overcoming some minor hitches, new inroads leading to the development of a system that targets techniques, can be achieved only by determined practice sessions.

It would be interesting to read about others on this forum, who have managed their musical careers with finesse and dedication.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 7 Jul 2009 6:10 am

OK Bill, let's start with you...

Nathan Golub · Post by **Nathan Golub** » 7 Jul 2009 6:57 am

After a gig I try to make a mental list of the things I was having trouble with, then work on those techniques specifically at home. Lately it's been licks that use triplets. I can do them pretty well at home after I've been playing a while, but at a gig under pressure I've found it's not always as easy for me to do. So I'll make up some exercises using a metronome and practice those for a bit every time I sit down to play. It's definitely encouraging when I start to see results from practicing specific things.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 Jul 2009 10:46 am

Nathan,

I was very pleased to receive your explanation of how to manage some of the hurdles that are part of succeeding at attaining more difficult levels of finesse in performances. Thanks for sharing some of your thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly with your approaches to practice as a solution.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 7 Jul 2009 11:32 am

When I saw that my career was on the verge of bursting into the intense fame that people like Elvis and Michael Jackson have attained, and seeing the way they had to live their lives in seclusion to gain any privicy. I hired a negative manager that could help me maintain my amateur status, and thus avoid all this torment. So far, it's really been working well.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Jul 2009 12:31 pm

Rotflal, Rick you kill me

I did the exact same thing years ago, except hiring a manager. Today I am such an amateur that you wouldn't believe it

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Jul 2009 12:31 pm

edited....double post

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 7 Jul 2009 1:11 pm

I smell pish!

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 7 Jul 2009 2:12 pm

I work over the 'Diminshed scales a lot, very tricky i find them, but i agree, stepping out can help push forward the limited boundaries one finds himself locked into sometimes.
There is absolutley no substitute for practice, i dont care what your name is.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 Jul 2009 2:24 pm

Advancements can get to be a very personal effort. One of the most interesting experiences, is to have the privilege of witnessing another musician's methods of working out difficult arrangements on the steel guitar. Problem solving when shared with others, can produce very good results. Reciprocation heads the list of things to become involved in; if you believe that two heads are better than one in most problem solving situations.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 7 Jul 2009 2:46 pm

Don't think about all that stuff,Just get up there and play,I survived 55 years doing that,why worry now ? DYK?BC.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 7 Jul 2009 5:37 pm

Charles,

Have you ever visited Section, Alabama? I believe the Louvin Brothers grew up there. Some of their songs are the best of country for my listening pleasure.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 7 Jul 2009 7:33 pm

Bill,don't remember passing through Section,It's close to Decatur And Huntsville May have passed through and did,nt see it,It's in the North east corner of the state,The pop. is around 700,Yes The Louvins are from there,Guess their only claim to fame is the Louvins,and Tammy Little [Miss Alabama of 1984].DYK?BC.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Jul 2009 2:06 am

Thank you Charles for that information. Many things inspire deliberate practice sessions on a regular basis. I've noticed that many who propel themselves in the direction of gaining musical knowledge, have shared in becoming recipients of praises from well-informed attendees at steel guitar events. It's not unusual to find knowledgeable people who are very retentive, and who are willing, more often than not, to be reassuring by pointing out small details that otherwise possibly escape notice for one reason or another by others. The impacts of individuals showing a readiness to acknowledge special efforts, by voicing their approvals, can instill high ranges of efforts, in each individual player. Delicate issues that affect our moods and restraints, could develop in threads that are seeking the ultimate means of regular practice sessions. Always trusting implicitly, that efforts lead to rewards, as it appears to be a safe rule to live by.

Danny Crelin · Post by **Danny Crelin** » 8 Jul 2009 6:02 am

I myself don't always get the time to practice as I would like. Not enough hours in the day for building steels, working on websites and whatever else arises. Recently I have been moonlighting with several acts, and they all have different styles. So in a way, the extra gigs give me a way to think differently as I approach my normal gig. I always try to nail down a new way to play a lick on the fly. If it works fine, if it don't it will.....

Back when I was in Va and studying with BC, I did have the time to practice all of the time, so I guess I overcame some tough hurdles then.

And since I do a lot of driving here in TX, I have converted my BC lesson tapes to CD and thats my practice time..

Peace

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 8 Jul 2009 6:41 am

Danny,

It's unbelievable when we stop to realize just how fast time can escape notice by a person like yourself who is engaged in building musical instruments. It would be nice to read about your average day at the shop.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 8 Jul 2009 8:19 am

Bill Hankey wrote: It would be nice to read about your average day at the shop.

I haven't had an "average" day in years.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 8 Jul 2009 10:00 am

I was gonna write if they have a special talent like singing or dancing it might be worth managing them,after I put on my reading glasses...never mind I though you were talking about managing goats,I now read it as goals.sorry

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Jul 2009 1:18 am

The You Tube experience is the greatest thing since the inception of marketed steel guitars. I find it hard to believe that such a wealth of information is now presented, simply by requesting through technology a designated musical piece. Having the ability to cancel or repeat information and performances, is a perfect opportunity to make huge strides in conceiving of technical abilities shown in others. The evidence is mounting that the choices are so diversified, that knowing how to select the best available information, requires a minimum of computer skills. "Fishing" around by making changes in word choices, will quite possibly bring the searches to happy endings.

Georg Sørtun · Post by **Georg Sørtun** » 9 Jul 2009 1:39 am

Information overload is always a problem since we can't process data as fast and well as computers.

The quality on YouTube varies too much. Tuning my ears from listening to something that makes proper use of digital technology, to something that can't even meet that of the average 1920 recordings, is something I find particularly problematic.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Jul 2009 2:13 am

Georg S.,

Yes, I've noticed several times what I believe you are referring to. I had suggested that there are methods of selecting bona fide selections. Becoming aware of these distinctions takes a little practice. For most, it will be well worth the inconvenience.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 9 Jul 2009 3:37 pm

One smile is worth a thousand steel guitar "licks". It's the shortest route to getting the best view of what lies ahead. We've come a long way with the smiles, with just a short way to go! There is an obvious correlation between smiling and progressing with specified goals relating to steel guitar practice. Yesterday, I thumbed through a nonfictional publication that featured 500 rare photographs of large groups assembled in different settings. Not once did I see a smile among them! In keeping with the desire to remain on thread, the significance of qualifiable diversities, is matched against personal experiences. A smile is closely related to finesse. One cannot survive without the other.