KW Guitar Tip #12 Setting Goals To Improve Your Guitar Playing

I really enjoy this time of year because I always take the time to improve an area in my guitar playing.  I never make resolutions, however it always feels like a good time to create a fresh start, or a way to begin again and create new guitar playing goals.

When I was younger I would pick a goal, like play faster, and go about it feverishly for about a week or so.  Maybe I would notice some improvements, but basically my willpower would burnout.  in other words I couldn’t will myself to be better.  Now I always complete a plan.

In setting goals I always start from the whole and break it down into parts.  If your goal is to play faster, just don’t play faster.  Pick ten exercises(that you have not previously done) that will help you improve your speed.

But before you do that ask yourself why do you want to play faster?  Make sure it is for the right reasons.

1. Is it for a song?

2. Is it to learn better solos?

3. To develop your playing?

4. Or to impress others?

If your goal is number 4, then that is your ego talking and chances of improving are minimal because you are not enjoying the process of self improvement for its own sake.

My goal this year is to be consistent in playing in a relaxed manner.  I have noticed that I am tensing up in difficult passages.  So I have cleaned and de-cluttered a new practicing spot in my home.  I have picked a new set of studies and finger techniques to re strenghthen my hands for endurance.  Also, I have eliminated certain foods in my diet that are causing me to experience brain fog and lack of concentration. As you can see, our guitar playing involves our whole being.

Please send me an area in your guitar playing that you would like to improve and I will pick one and post the ideas in my next guitar tip.  At the end of of the month I will post an evaluation and we will sharpen our goals even more.

Stay Tuned

Stephen Zurakowsky

Artistic Director