How does Steve Vai practice now?

[Given to Fly]

How do think Steve Vai practices now? I mean, say he is getting ready to go on tour, I wonder what he practices. Is he trying to get his scales to 240098 beats per minute? Or is there a point where practicing to build speed is not needed anymore. With classical guitar it seems that once you get to a certain point (professer level) you don't practice scales much anymore or technique because you have mastered it and you have it down . So I guess Steve Vai would have it down due to years of playing and amazing talent. So I guess I just answered my own question. Well maybe I'm completely wrong. Feel free to give opinions or answers if your bestowed with that kind of knowledge.

[Pryde7]

I think you answered your own question LOL

I'm not entirely sure about SSV, but with John Petrucci (as stated in a recent interview), he doesn't really practice technique anymore, and hasn't for a long time. He does, however, practice the pieces that he is writing or performing. So, rather than practicing pure technique, he writes and practices pieces for performance and recording that keep his chops in action.

Steve Vai and John Petrucci, both being homeowners, family men, and with Steve Vai being involved in the business side of music, don't really have much time to do hardcore woodshedding. Once you absorb your technique, it only requires very basic maintenance to keep up. I'm guessing the only time they do any hardcore practicing anymore is when they're getting ready to tour.

K

[Rabin]

I'll give you the exact SSV quote once I find the magazine in which there's a question about how he practises lately. But from what I remember, steve says he doesnt practise anymore, he just "plays" with his instrtument.

[kennydoe]

Originally Posted by Rabin

I'll give you the exact SSV quote once I find the magazine in which there's a question about how he practises lately. But from what I remember, steve says he doesnt practise anymore, he just "plays" with his instrtument.

Too bad he doesn't play the organ.

~K

[Spagbol]

Originally Posted by Given to Fly

With classical guitar it seems that once you get to a certain point (professer level) you don't practice scales much anymore or technique because you have mastered it and you have it down .

I have to disagree with that statement. When you get to 'professor level' you don't just stop practicing technique and stuff. Once you have a technique mastered doesn't mean you'll be able to keep it at that level if you don't practice it - or use it regularly. Try it, get really really good at something (say sweep picking) then don't use that technique for 6 months and try and use it again - I guarantee you'll not be able to use it to the same standard or with the same confidence without doing some practice on it again. It's the same for non-technical musical issues too - for example, if you really work on a piece and manage to really extract amazing music out of it (I'm talking phrasing, sensitivity, atmosphere, feeling) and then leave that piece for a few months, when you come back to it, you'll not be able to play it with the same level of feeling and musicality even though your brain remembers and knows what you are aiming for.
Even if you play your instrument all day every day it's doubtful that you'll encompass all techniques/finger patterns/phrasing options etc and so your ability to use some of these things to the high level you once were able to, are going to slip as you don't use them. That is unless you practice them!

Like any skill at a high level, once it's at that high level, you need to keep it there, it won't just stay at that level because you can do it 'now'. World champion gymnasts don't stop practicing their tumbles for hours once they can do them. Olympic Gold medallists don't just stop training because they have got to the top. If they stop practicing, they will no longer stay at the top. To keep on being able to do skills to the same standard, you need to practice.
You think the world's best virtuoso violinists don't need to practice their technique and scales?! WRONG, they practice them more than anyone else... and that's exactly why they stay at that top level.