[mikestew]

Reminds me of when I play my mandolin when I’m camping. I’m sure fellow campers think I suck, despite having played for ten years. But I’m not going to play stuff I can play in my sleep, I’m playing stuff that still needs work. So, in consideration of others, once in a while I’ll rip off a fast version of Old Dangerfield or some other song I know really well just in case someone is in earshot.

[mhb]

Why do you think other people want to hear you practicing songs that you're not good at? I'm imagining someone trying to learn the recorder by the campfire.

[mikestew]

Why do you think other people want to hear you practicing songs that you're not good at?

I’m assuming people don’t want to hear me at all. To be clear, I’m just sitting at my campsite, not showing up to the campfire circle with “anyone want to hear poorly-played music?” Though if someone else is sporting a ukulele, well, I think all bets are off at that point.

[xboxnolifes]

Yeah, only practice your music in an isolated, sound-proof room. If you're possibly in ear-shot of any human being, only play songs you've perfected.

[bluGill]

I don't. I'm not playing for their entertainment, I'm playing for mine. I get bored with a song long before I get good at it, and so I divide my time between songs I'm starting to get good at, and songs I'm terrible at. I've never reached good at anything though.