So, how do YOU keep a practice journal?

[merritt stone]

Well, tonight I finally started a practice journal. Writing things down, making lists and so on have always helped me with productivity, and I've wanted to start a practice journal for a while. I'm finally in the postion to have a steady practice time, and want to make the most of it. Tonight I literally just wrote two things in two lines:

"Major scale modes 100bpm - 10min"

"Fretboard memorization - 20 min"

(this is obvioulsy not a very good practice, but it's late, and I was really in the mood to start this journal. I knew if I didn't now, I never would)


I figure that, as I continue, I will naturally begin to devise an organized journal and eventually a practice method. I know what I want to accomplish right now as far as goals, and will begin immediately, but I'm curious, what does a page out of your practice book look like? How do you organize it? Different sections for different things (practice routine, licks, etc). Lets talk about it!

[fep]

Here's something I posted a while back...

As far as practice regimines go I'm a big fan of to do lists. They'll keep you focused on what you think is important, help you analyze what is working which helps you make appropriate changes, and they'll motivate you, etc.

Part of a good practice regimine is developing the judgement of what to practice. Your practice will evolve over time and is something you'll probably give a lot of thought to. Just get organized and jump in.

As an example here's my current list, The bold items are things I want to hit every day. Other than that, I don't try to hit everything every day, but I do want to hit everything by the end of the week.

I'm not saying this is what you should practice, I just wanted to let you see how I organize my to do list.

[Dark Star]

I think the Moleskine "Passions Music Journal" is pretty stupid & useless so I bought a plain Moleskine journal w/grid pages:
Moleskine Classic Large Squared Notebook (5 x 8.25), MoleskineUS
In it, I write down different scales &/or chords passages I have been meditating on. Makes it easy to plot notes on a stave, too. Or is it staff? Staff or stave, it's easy to make notation w/the grid.

[Billnc]

This is something I've tried and just cannot do. My practice regimen is good, I work on harmony a while, melodic material, reading. Since I've had the basics down for years (but isn't that what we always study? after all it's one note or chord following another) I pursue something that interests me until I burn out, then on to something else. There seems to be a three month cycle or so of a course of study. Each practice session is very well planned and I stick with it, the log I just never stick with. I do keep my notes and they are dated, same with work in books.

[Helgo]

--sorry, double post--

[Helgo]

Hi guys!

Since 2009 I am keeping a journal for my musical activities. I always write down a lot when playing and I got really annoyed of the slips of paper laying around anywhere - plus, I couldn´t find some older stuff most of the times.

So I had about 80 pages of music notation printed out at my local copy shop, made a nice cover for it and had it spiral bound (which gives the journal a nice Realbook flair ).

The pages are blank on one side and have six combined music notation / guitar TAB staves on the other.

I jot everything down that I feel I need to jot down...Licks, chord shapes, fingerings, positions, chord sequences, what I practiced, what I need to practice, even some "meta-thoughts" from time to time or amp settings I like whenever I am in a new rehearsal room and get to / have to use a new amp, etc...

I really can´t imagine life without it anymore

It tells a story about how I evolved during the last couple of years and aside from being really handy and practical, it is really nice to have the old books as memories....like a photo album


I can only recommend keeping a journal!
One of the best and most useful decisions I made in my many many years of attempting to play...


Thanks for the cool thread-idea,

Cheers,
H.


ps: prices may differ in different countries, but I pay less than 10 EUR for a "new" book...

[jmstritt]

I usually just keep a record of what tunes I work on. As far as scales and chords and such like that, I always just apply that to the tune I work on. I have the do everything to every tune philosophy.

I also keep a pad on manuscript paper handy and write down any licks that I come up with that I like, and new chord voicings that I can find.

[johnlocke]

if you really care for longevity i suggest getting a quality notebook. i got this camel leather journal that made in Thailand from some Japanese scientists. it looks awesome, refillables, customizable reliable product.

o ya i got mine at Resor Shop from us. check it out!