“A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.” – Fortune Cookie
Goal: Professional Level Mastery (10,000 Practice Hours) by Sunday, May 7, 2017.
Guitar History: 44 Years of experience. + 2 years 5 Months (3000 hours)
Accumulated Guitar/Music Experience:
· Began lessons at age 10 with Mel Bay series. Studied for several years as a youth.
· Performed folk music locally on steel string between 1976 and 1978, Wausau, WI.
· Participated in Solo & Ensemble competition 1975. Sor/Segovia 20 Studies selection.
· Taught folk/fingerstyle guitar (1976 – 1977) at Close Harmony Music, Wausau.
· Performed summer of 1981 in Wildwood, NJ, with a Campus Crusade pop band.
· Completed B.S. Music Therapy (1981) with Guitar/Voice as applied instruments.
· Functional piano during graduate school (1984 – 1987). Earned M.Div. Degree
· Kept up with guitar at a ‘recreational’ level over the years.
Subjective “Credit” for practice hours/experience over the years: 1,800 Hours
Generally accepted practice hours to reach a professional level: 10,000 hours
· 10,000 – 4,800 Hours = 5200 Remaining Hours
· Days per year minus vacation, sick, and “rest” days: 355
· 355 Days x 4 Years = 1420 Practice Days
· Required Time: 5200 hours / 1420 days = 3.6 Hours per day (rounded down to nearest half hour: 3.5 Hours)
Required Daily Practice Schedule
Morning: 6:00 AM – 6:30 AM (1/2 hour)Evening: 7:00 – 10:30 (3 hours, breaks included)
Summary: (3.5 hrs practice per day X 4 Years) + 4800 hours = 10,000 HoursQuestion: Why do I want to achieve a “professional level” mastery of classical guitar?
Ecclesiastes 9:10 - “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Developing my skills to a level that is both entertaining and impressive is an opportunity to do this, and one I believe will have far-reaching benefits. Most of all I want it to bring honor to the Lord.