Woodshedding is practice time on an instrument or voice away from the public eye, i.e. out in the woodshed. It’s away from social media, open mics, stages, socialization, etc. and is meant for your own artistic growth. Frankly, it’s a bit of a lost art in an era where musicians are able to share music as soon as they can play it.
Here’s the main reason to do it: the audience.
Here’s five more reasons why to try it, for yourself:
- Instincts: A jazzman once was asked what makes music good and he said that you know it’s good when it sounds good. (“If it sounds good and feels good, then it IS good!” -Duke Ellington). When you play solely to yourself and listen with your own mind, you will sense when something is right.
- Get rid of the green grain. When grain isn’t yet ready to harvest it’s green. With the onslaught of music gear, software and online platforms for sharing music, it’s easier than ever for people to share “green grain.” While this can be fun, it also wastes a lot of people’s time. Plus, think about it. The creators of social media platforms, apps and Internet features are making mad money off of your creativity and you are not. Why not work on your best work, then share it? Just beause you CAN share it…does that mean you have to? We live in a culture that encourages us to share everything online, from what we ate for breakfast to our latest creative insights. Know yourself well enough to know what color the grain is.
- You Might Gain Skills: The only way to get truly good at something is to invest time. Those skills that you gain will help you achieve many things which are related to those skills. The benefit of woodshedding is to gain a purse full of currency– created by your own hard work. No one can take it away from you! This currency can be applied to many musical challenges.
- Focus and Discipine: The dedication it takes to be devout to your practice (literally and figuratively) will positively impact other areas of your life and give you clarity of mind. It cuts away riff raff and bullshit. Be brave, cut the fat.
- You’re Not Good Enough until You Commit Enough: The commitment to practicing in a focused way, without the insights nor distraction of opinions, centers you on the craft itself. That commitment carries through to other aspects of music from how you approach and respect the stage. Lastly, and most importantly, it measures the how deep you can delve into the music.
Brilliant!!! You are a god.