How long do you practice?

Hello,

I am wondering how long do you usually practice each week?

The worship group that I play with usually practices once a week and we go through the songs once. Most players are already familiar with their more or less 150 song list, but for me a lot of them are still new after 6 months.

I will greatly appreciate your feedback.

I'm on two worship teams, one for Saturday night that I lead, and another for Sunday morning that I play electric. Each group gets to practice about 1.5-2 hours per week, where we work through the songs for the service. We also warmup and sound check before service, but not playing each song, maybe just one or two that are newer. I try to have personal practice time every day, especially for new stuff I know is coming in the future so I already know it when it is time to practice.

We practice as a team twice a week. Once during the week and once Sunday morning before the service.
I try to get in an hour a day on my own, working on my chops, scales etc plus the songs. It's still not enough. Guitar righteousness continues to elude me so I play in faith...Lord have mercy!

About an hour on my own the weeks I play. (1 week off a month so three or four weeks a month depending) But that's just practice for the specific set that week. I practice and play guitar 1-1.5 hours a day, every day. While not specific to that week's service, this practice helps a great deal to keep me "in shape." Not that it makes me any good mind you, just makes me as good as I can be.

Unlike most churches we do not have a mid-week practice so everyone is responsible for practicing on their own. Pre-service practice Sunday morning is about 2 hours. The first hour and 15 minutes or so is going through each song and working out the arrangements, leads, breaks etc... The last 45 minutes is focused solely on transitions between songs, to make them as smooth and fluid as possible.

Like many of the rest here, we have a practice during the week that runs an hour or so, rarely pushes 2, and then a short practice Sunday AM in the choir room (just acoustic piano/guitars - the bassist & I use small practice amps - the drummer beats on the back of a chair).

During the week, I may go over anything that I haven't done in a long time, or if there's a new song, I'll spend some time on that to get the patch, effects, and any distinctive fills or whatever that I might get lucky enough to uncover. (I'm not talking a lot of time here, maybe an hour.) I keep a "database" of performance notes, links to YouTube versions of the songs, and patch info, so assembling a "cheat sheet" to go with the charts each Sunday is a pretty quick job. That, along with the per-service run-through, makes it pretty comfortable playing anything that shows up from week to week.

In the absence of structured practice, I found that playing along with the songs, either downloaded or from YouTube, can be helpful for getting familiar with the music, even if the key or arrangement is not the same.

Now, after a bit over a year at this church, I am spending more time just playing other stuff, or noodling on the mando (latest hobby). Some weeks I go back and plug in the POD to the PC, and do a listen-along and tinker with the patches, or maybe find a hidden little guitar fill I will add, which keeps things from getting routine.

We usually practice once during the week for about 2 hours. I always suggest that we play the songs we are going to do in order, two or three times. Of course, no one ever takes my suggestion, so we end up doing one song 6-8 times until we've beaten it into the ground.

On Sundays, we show up about 2 hours ahead of time for sound check, and then beat the songs a few more times just to make sure all the life is gone from them. When the service starts, then we play different songs, or play the ones we just practiced, but in a different key.

Our Saturday service is at 5:30. Our WL emails us the songs and keys with YouTube videos sometime during the week (usually Thursday). We meet on Saturday at three to get set up, then go through each song a couple times to get the arrangement right. We then go through the whole set once without stopping. That gives us about a half hour-hour extra time to go get coffee or something as a group and talk about our week.

The Sunday service is a little bit different. The modern service starts at 11:11, exactly 26 minutes after the previous service. So its all a scramble to move the brass and piano, lower the organ, redress the stage, and get set up. We then pick one song and run through the first minute of it. This is mainly just to get our monitor levels set. Then we pray, and thank God for the miracle that we were able to get ready in time!

Practice? Not really enough. There's the dedicated few that try to get a couple of hours in mid-week but it's usually just the leader/drummer, and the two guitars - an acoustic and me on electric. I don't know why the others never come.

Then on Sunday there is a complete set up because we're renting the room and the PA comes out of the closet there. After that there might be an hour to go over the songs with everyone there.

Our bands are different every week, with 5 leaders (as of this writing). We use Worship Planning online to see everything from who is on for the week, to what's the order of songs and when and in what key and the files section has mp3's (and unfortunately, automatically loads every mp3 in the database with that song name.....making it confusing, and chord charts). Leaders are overburdoned and typically don't get any of this loaded in until Monday night. I spend about 2 hours downloading the mp3's, figuring out which one is closest to what we're doing, downloading the chord charts and reformating them in a linear way (I can't do verse chorus, repeat, bridge, repeat with last 3 lines of chorus......I need to put each verse, then chorus then verse then chorus then bridge etc or I get lost). I'll pick the guitar I'm going to use, the pickup on the guitar and the sound in my fx. Load the fx sounds in order and practice the songs. Another 2 hours to write the leads and intros/outros. If there's a second electric guitarist, we'll meet for an hour so we both know what we're doing.

Then rehersal on Wednesday night for 2 1/2 hours. Then practice everything myself for 5 hours. Sunday morning, once through everything for about 45 minutes. On for 2 services and go home.

We usually practice once during the week for about 2 hours. I always suggest that we play the songs we are going to do in order, two or three times. Of course, no one ever takes my suggestion, so we end up doing one song 6-8 times until we've beaten it into the ground.

On Sundays, we show up about 2 hours ahead of time for sound check, and then beat the songs a few more times just to make sure all the life is gone from them. When the service starts, then we play different songs, or play the ones we just practiced, but in a different key.

Sounds like you are not happy. Maybe time for a new setting for you?

2-3 hours.

Sounds like you are not happy. Maybe time for a new setting for you?

Nah, I just come here to vent. I've learned over the years not to let it bother me, but I have been letting it bother me lately.

I'm definitely not changing churches. One thing that helped me to get over these frustations in the past is getting plenty of solo gigs where I get paid, and playing other events not affiliated with the band. It lets me do my own thing where I'm not tied in with the rest of the band. A musical release, so to speak.

I guess you could call that a new setting, and it definitely works.

Thanks everyone for the replies, it gives me a good overall picture of what others do for practice.

Our Saturday service is at 5:30

We start playing a the same time, we have a 5:30 service on Saturday at Lake Forest. Is your church in Newport Beach?

Our WL emails us the songs and keys with YouTube videos sometime during the week

This is helpful, we don't get the songs until Thursday night at practice, that leaves me Friday night and Saturday morning to practice them. I usually spend at least 2 hours at home going over them, depending on what else is going on.

Take care.

reformatting them in a linear way (I can't do verse chorus, repeat, bridge, repeat with last 3 lines of chorus......I need to put each verse, then chorus then verse then chorus then bridge etc or I get lost)

I am in the same boat, we have a mismatch of music sheets, some very easy to follow some quite confusing. With the more complex ones it takes me a while to be able to follow them.

Keeping our library is a labor of love and I don't fault our leader for the limitations, add to the mix the fact that when I played in my younger years I never used a music sheet, everything was done my memory and an almost 30 year hiatus, the problem is definitely mine. I got back into playing about 2 years ago and have been playing in church for 6 months, I have come a long way, but have a huge way to go.

Thanks so much for your reply.

We start playing a the same time, we have a 5:30 service on Saturday at Lake Forest. Is your church in Newport Beach?

Yeah: WEBSITE (www.sapres.org).

We get the songs Monday (hopefully) and i practice an hour a day except thurs we have a two hour practice with everyone. Sun morning we have another hour practice before worship. I have to learn most all the songs from scratch since I was out of worship for twenty years so the practice time is non-negotiable. I also pray for skill but that is no substitute for practice IMO.

We decided a long time ago practice is for at home. So when we gather as a band this is a rehearsal. Everybody ready to go. We get Sundayss the set list on Monday. We rehearse on Thurs for about 2 hours. We go thru the tunes once. Then find out if anyone wants to go back over stuff. We're always working on new tunes and have 1-2 going usually. We work on those at rehearsal too. Then we work on the Worship tunes Sunday morning just making sure the starts are good. I practice 1-2 hours a week a day just to keep in touch with the tunes and keep my playing solid

We practice as a team on Thursday nights for two hours, and on Sunday morning for an hour before the service. I usually practice at least one hour every night, sometimes two hours depending on how much fun I'm having:grin:.

i play in two worship bands also,at different churches. in one we practice once during th week, however long it takes, usually less than two hours, then again before service on friday night. this an is alternative service band, made up of musicians from 6 or 7 churches playing on a rotating basis. the only "permanant" players are the worship leader and myself. it is way cool to get to play and sing with all these different guys and gals on a consistent basis.

my home church band only gets to practice before service for an hour on sunday and after service for three hours once a month. my church as yet has no permanant facility. i'm not too sure how we are doing it with the previously mentioned handicaps we deal with, but in the last six weeks or so, we've just started cookin' with gas !

the friday service crew are all fully adult or middle aged very experienced worship players, and their music reflects that: well and tastefully played, competent and well-presented. very cool.

the sunday crew, except me, is just a bunch of kids, some quite talented, and THEY JUST RAWK!!

Hi Friends,

Practice is very though word for any human being. Practice means you can work on same task for taking master in this field.

In all thing you need to do more practice for taking mastery.

Thanks & Regards,
smith Brown

Our bands are different every week, with 5 leaders (as of this writing). We use Worship Planning online to see everything from who is on for the week, to what's the order of songs and when and in what key and the files section has mp3's (and unfortunately, automatically loads every mp3 in the database with that song name.....making it confusing, and chord charts). Leaders are overburdoned and typically don't get any of this loaded in until Monday night. I spend about 2 hours downloading the mp3's, figuring out which one is closest to what we're doing, downloading the chord charts and reformating them in a linear way (I can't do verse chorus, repeat, bridge, repeat with last 3 lines of chorus......I need to put each verse, then chorus then verse then chorus then bridge etc or I get lost). .....

Are you satisfied with Worship Planning online other than the mp3 issues? We are looking to find a better way to manage our P&W band. Right now the wl just picks songs out of the ccli index. Also, how is the multiple wl's working out for you? We have 2 right now and sometimes it's a bit stressful?

Thanks

We do 3 songs and practise for about 2 hours on Thursday nights. Unfortunately we only really play through the songs for about 1/2 that time. Too much time is spent joking around and playing around with pedals, cables, monitors, settings, etc. I don't mind that we have to set everything up correctly, but not sure why we spend an hour setting it all up, then tear it all down and have it messed up for Sunday morning. Since I play bass in church, setting up is no big deal. Tune my bass, hook up to my amp, get a 'thumbs up' from the sound guy when my volume is good, and then wait for everyone else until it's time to play.
Anyway, it's frustrating but I love playing so I deal with it.

Maybe you guys have a suggestion... We have a small church and really only about 7 or 8 band members. Due to schedules most of the time we only have a 3 or 4 piece band. That's really not the problem at all.. Only 1 or 2 of us actually practice enough to be proficient. The others just don't either take it seriously enough or think that they can "wing it" and that it will all just "come together". Most are quite talented and do have the skill sets to do the job, but don't put time into it.

We have talked to them about it and get lame excuses. So we have to decide wether to just use the ones who actually care enough to put forth the effort or continue to deal with it and have some sloppy sets. I'm personally for using just those who actually care enough to practice even if it means we have 2 people on stage.

So fire away!

Maybe you guys have a suggestion... We have a small church and really only about 7 or 8 band members. Due to schedules most of the time we only have a 3 or 4 piece band. That's really not the problem at all.. Only 1 or 2 of us actually practice enough to be proficient. The others just don't either take it seriously enough or think that they can "wing it" and that it will all just "come together". Most are quite talented and do have the skill sets to do the job, but don't put time into it.


Just to clarify, are you saying that everyone is skilled to play their instruments, but not preparing adequately to become proficient in playing the chosen songs together as a band? If so, it's kind of tough because people can have pretty hectic schedules, and maybe we just have to adapt. I have a guitarist who sits in with me every few weeks who does not have the time to learn specific leads, but he is a good player. We don't try to do technically accurate covers when he plays.

Or are you talking about musicians who are just not interested in playing well at all? I'm not sure these are the right people to be on the worship team, or any band for that matter. Lots of us may not be very good... but if we're musicians, we practice, don't we?

Hmmm, official practice on Thurs nites oh... hour and a half. I think you need a real rehearsal nite, even if its just to get new songs together. All bands practice, if your members won't, as opposed to can't, then somethings wrong. Who decides what you're going to play? Me? I play my guitars everyday just because I can.

Just to clarify, are you saying that everyone is skilled to play their instruments, but not preparing adequately to become proficient in playing the chosen songs together as a band? If so, it's kind of tough because people can have pretty hectic schedules, and maybe we just have to adapt. I have a guitarist who sits in with me every few weeks who does not have the time to learn specific leads, but he is a good player. We don't try to do technically accurate covers when he plays.

Or are you talking about musicians who are just not interested in playing well at all? I'm not sure these are the right people to be on the worship team, or any band for that matter. Lots of us may not be very good... but if we're musicians, we practice, don't we?

I think that it's a mixture really. Some just don't have the time and we understand that, but as a musician we owe it to the band, audience and most importantly to "the one" whom we are worshipping to be prepared and with the right frame of mind. Some on the other hand are just lazy and feel that they can skate by on their skills. The wl has spoken with them and if they can't put enough time and effort to it, she just won't use them until they do put forth the effort.

To me it is unfathomable that a musician just won't take the time to prepare. Makes me wonder just how serious they are about it. I think the answer is as plain as the nose on my face, and you hit it right on.

Thanks for your input.

I've been playing ever since Ed Sullivan said "ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles!"

It occurred to me some time ago that I've peaked out and this is as good as I'm ever going to get.

So I really don't practice any more per se, but I do pick up the guitar seveal times a day just to play a few favorite riffs and to listen to it.

It's like a form of meditation now more than anything else.

It occurred to me some time ago that I've peaked out and this is as good as I'm ever going to get.

So I really don't practice any more per se, but I do pick up the guitar seveal times a day just to play a few favorite riffs and to listen to it.

I think you have touched on something pretty important. "Practice" can be a pretty broad term and would not mean the same thing to everyone. I like to think of two kinds of "practice" that mean something in music:

1. Practice as a learning method. Engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase "practice makes perfect"

2. Practice referring broadly to something people do. As musicians, we grab a guitar and play it. I would stop calling myself a guitar player if I lost interest in doing that. I stopped playing drums (being a practicing drummer) 20 years ago. I no longer call myself a "drummer" although I still know how to do it better than a typical beginner/novice.

You absolutely do "practice" your guitar, and I'll bet you have gotten pretty good at what you do, and I would also bet you continue to learn. Similar to you, I realize I am probably not going to achieve rock star level skills, but I sure like playing. SmilinWillie seems to have some folks that might have lost that feelin'

Maybe you guys have a suggestion... We have a small church and really only about 7 or 8 band members. Due to schedules most of the time we only have a 3 or 4 piece band. That's really not the problem at all.. Only 1 or 2 of us actually practice enough to be proficient. The others just don't either take it seriously enough or think that they can "wing it" and that it will all just "come together". Most are quite talented and do have the skill sets to do the job, but don't put time into it.

We have talked to them about it and get lame excuses. So we have to decide wether to just use the ones who actually care enough to put forth the effort or continue to deal with it and have some sloppy sets. I'm personally for using just those who actually care enough to practice even if it means we have 2 people on stage.

So fire away!
I'd start by recording every practice (if you have one) and every service. Make everyone listen to the recordings of the people playing. Have an open discussion about whether what you hear is where each person wants the music to be. Assuming most of the folks want to hear something better, and make improvements, make some sort of "contract" that requires people to practice, and show up ready to rehearse (not learn, as many have pointed out). If they can't keep up with that requirement, then ask them to wait until they can. There should be someone who actually acts as WL to continually remind folks of the commitment. If necessary, just make it for 6 months, or even 3 months at a time, but insist that it's how the team works.

Good luck.

I'd start by recording every practice (if you have one) and every service. Make everyone listen to the recordings of the people playing. Have an open discussion about whether what you hear is where each person wants the music to be. Assuming most of the folks want to hear something better, and make improvements, make some sort of "contract" that requires people to practice, and show up ready to rehearse (not learn, as many have pointed out). If they can't keep up with that requirement, then ask them to wait until they can. There should be someone who actually acts as WL to continually remind folks of the commitment. If necessary, just make it for 6 months, or even 3 months at a time, but insist that it's how the team works.

Good luck.

That's a great idea. We started making them agree to those same things and a couple dropped out. I guess that was my answer! Recording would be a good idea too. If not the whole songs, the intros, lead breaks, endings and transitions. That seems to be where I lose 'em, even though I try to keep it simple!

Thanks for all the input.

1 hr before service on sunday. Everything is planned and emailed to us midweek.

About 1 1/2 hours the week b4 we play, then a quick run-through after our sound check on Sunday Morn. 3-4 songs is all we usually do and we usually musically arrange them to suit how we want them to sound. The one thing we are blessed with that helps a lot: no "prima donna's" and we gel pretty well.

Practice?
You mean "Formal practice" where the band and vocalists get together and plays what songs will be played on the following sunday??

Never...lol.
I think out of all of 2011 we had 5 total rehearsals. And those were only because other people were coming to our church and everyone wanted to make sure they were ready to show off.
:lol::lol:
But regular service they never call practice or rehearsals for. Let something come up during the week where our group gets asked to play out or something...you should see everyone scrambling to get people together and practice. It's hilarious! They never seem to learn that if they held regular practice sessions...the music would sound better.

For me, I don't need to practice with them.
My church never plays anything the same way twice. Mainly because we have no musical direction and it's organized chaos every Sunday.
I know my keys and my scales and chords so no matter where they decide to play or what they decide to play, I always find a groove.

The chaos is also the reason I'm looking for a REAL band to join.
This chaotic mess I'm in at my church is just annoying sometimes. :roll:

But...it is what it is.
I play for God until he provides something else.

They never seem to learn that if they held regular practice sessions...the music would sound better.

For me, I don't need to practice with them.

So ironic to see these two lines back to back. "They don't seem to learn that practice helps... But I sure don't need it!"

:)

Hey thighbanez that's too bad! I know what you mean by "organized chaos". We have the same issue in my "home" church. No direction, people not showing up; it's hard to deal with. The church where we have real practices is another one I was fortunate enough to get involved with locally. This group are very good musicians and we are lucky because every piece "fits" The only issue we have is the drummer. He is the son of two of our other musicians and is busy with school etc. Usually just shows up on Sunday morning for sound check and a quick rehearsal. We make do with that. I was like you before hoping for an opportunity to play in a better situation and I got one...TBTG
Still playing in my home church as well.
Incidentally we are doing this traditional one at the other church Sunday. Our female vocalist performs it well. I actually play the acoustic parts on this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJVrZKqKNE

So ironic to see these two lines back to back. "They don't seem to learn that practice helps... But I sure don't need it!"

:)

It's ironic...but mainly because there is no reason for me to practice with them.
There are no guitar parts to the songs and the keyboardist doesn't leave any sonic-space for anyone else but him and his 2 keyboards and his garageband'ed iPad.

I just add fills and lines in where I can.

For that...I don't need to practice with them...not that they do practice anyway...lol.

:smile:

Hey thighbanez that's too bad! I know what you mean by "organized chaos". We have the same issue in my "home" church. No direction, people not showing up; it's hard to deal with. The church where we have real practices is another one I was fortunate enough to get involved with locally. This group are very good musicians and we are lucky because every piece "fits" The only issue we have is the drummer. He is the son of two of our other musicians and is busy with school etc. Usually just shows up on Sunday morning for sound check and a quick rehearsal. We make do with that. I was like you before hoping for an opportunity to play in a better situation and I got one...TBTG
Still playing in my home church as well.
Incidentally we are doing this traditional one at the other church Sunday. Our female vocalist performs it well. I actually play the acoustic parts on this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJVrZKqKNE

Awesome video/song!

new cover band plays a couple of hours one night a week. Probably not near enough, but, with everybodys age, families, careers, its about the best one can expect.

I practice about a half hour to an hour by myself, 4-5 times a week. I always lay off the day after any kind of band practice or gig... no need to flare up the wrist injury