My Experience with Being Rusty
by Sean Stone-Ashe
This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Alaska with my wife and family, during which I made indelible memories, and witnessed great natural beauty.
This Alaska trip was actually my first time taking a cruise. It was a massive ship that took us to different cities in Alaska, and even made a stop in Canada! I did some great hiking and saw a few whales and sea otters, but the highlight of the trip had to be sailing through Glacier Bay National Park, and seeing the stunning glaciers, mountains and wildlife in that area. It was an unforgettable experience!
I have no regrets about this remarkable vacation, but when I returned to my guitar after nearly two weeks away from the instrument, I was absolutely punished for staying away so long!
Getting Back to Practice
When I finally returned home, I was eager to get back to my guitar and continue working on the music that I am passionate about. But, I did not have high expectations for what I would be able to do the first time I sat down to practice.
Indeed, it was a rough experience. And, I was even more rusty than I thought I would be – physically and mentally.
As I picked up my instrument and began to play my first notes, it felt deeply wrong. My hands had not done these precise motions in a while, and my fingers felt truly uncoordinated. My fingers even felt physically weaker than before. So, I had to begin with the most elementary warm up I could envision until the rust slowly wore off.
Additionally, some of the pieces I felt quite proficient at prior to my trip were more vague in my mind. I had to play only small sections significantly under tempo in order to remember correctly how it went.
Slowly, though, I was able to regain my confident feeling on the guitar. After a few days of patiently practicing like this, I felt back to my typical self. Thankfully, I had the discipline not to push myself too hard too fast, which might form bad habits and actually make me worse!
This was probably my longest stretch without practicing my guitar in over a decade.
Be Consistent, Avoid Gaps
If you’ve read my blog, or taken lessons from me before, you know I am all about consistency. It is a
non-negotiable reality of musicianship that people who want to succeed in music have to practice every single day with few exceptions.
This summer travel experience allowed me to witness first hand the effect that gaps in practice have on a musician. Not only are those days unproductive, but significant gaps can erase progress, and make students forget important details about their music or how to practice it.
Follow this link to read more about Practice Routine in the life of the young musician: https://www.centuryfinearts.com/2024/08/09/new-school-year-practice-on-day-1/
