Breakfast, lunch and dinner
I want to share an analogy that helps me structure my practice sessions. It’s simple but effective—breaking my practice into chunks, much like meals throughout the day.
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I aim for 30-minute sessions, ideally with breaks in between, which loosely follows the Pomodoro Technique (typically 25-minute focused work sessions). This approach keeps things structured, consistent, and manageable.
Breakfast – The Essential Start
Breakfast is my foundation. It’s the session I aim to complete every day, no excuses. Just like breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, this session is the backbone of my practice. And, unsurprisingly, it often happens just after breakfast.
If I have an early start or I’m traveling and miss it, I make sure to do it in the evening. It’s still an important meal!
This session focuses on essential warm-ups for both hands, with an emphasis on "double benefit" exercises—drills that improve right-hand technique while reinforcing theory at the same time.
Lunch – Feeding Repertoire & Performance
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Lunch is all about playing and singing songs. Most of the time, this means practicing my own material, but sometimes it includes covers I’m learning.
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The goal here is consistency and familiarity—embedding songs deep into long-term memory so they’re always "on hand." This approach has been a game-changer, making sure my songs are second nature when I perform.
​Dessert – Blues & Improvisation​
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Dessert is where I get to explore and have fun. This session has two main options:
Blues Riffs & Solos – I love blues. Spending 30 minutes jamming on riffs, rhythm, and solos, while breaking down what makes them work, is incredibly satisfying. Right now (early 2025), I’m working through a Robben Ford book on blues—his phrasing, timing, and technique are next-level, so there’s loads to learn.
Playing Over Changes – Soloing over chord changes is one of the most challenging but rewarding things to master. It requires solid technique, theory, and a lot of repetition. It’s something I’ve worked on for years, and I know I’ll be working on it for the rest of my days because there are infinite ways to approach it.
Why This Analogy Works
I don’t know exactly why this analogy resonates with me, but it does. Maybe it’s because meals are already a structured part of the day, so using them as a framework for practice feels natural.
I’m highly consistent with my breakfast practice—every day, without fail. Most days, I also get lunch in. Dessert? That’s usually a weekend treat, when I have a bit more time to dig in.
By thinking of practice this way, I reinforce the habit, keep things structured, and ensure steady progress.