--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started…" description: "\"Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's practice playing arpeggios, start today's with scales. Also, try to make a song out of what you're..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png" --- # Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's… ![“Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's practice playing arpeggios, start today's with scales. Also, try to make a song out of what you're practicing to help break the tedium.” quote by John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png) > “Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's practice playing arpeggios, start today's with scales. Also, try to make a song out of what you're practicing to help break the tedium.” [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistently varying practice routines prevents boredom and promotes skill growth. **In simple terms:** Avoid monotony in practice. Key Takeaway Mix exercises daily. Themes practice growth creativity Mood motivational inspirational Type advice musical When to use this quote - daily warm‑up - learning new scales - writing short pieces - overcoming stagnation Key Concepts deliberate practice musical composition Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure a week to include both technique and creativity? - What song ideas can emerge from scale practice? A Different Perspective May be hard to find time for varied activities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arpeggios Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arpeggios-start-2966191/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Playing Arpeggios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-arpeggios-2966190/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-playing-257347/) [Practicing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicing/) [Start Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-today/) [Stuck in a rut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck-in-a-rut/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Yesterday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday/) [Yesterday Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesterday-practice-2966192/) ## Related quotes > [I'm from the school of putting a lot of hours of practice into playing. But at the same time you have to write original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-from-the-school-of-putting-a-lot-of-hours-of-practice-into/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [It's easy to put on a Deep Purple record and say, 'That sounds great.' But why? Part of it is individual practice, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/it-s-easy-to-put-on-a-deep-purple-record-and-say-that-sounds-great/) [Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/) > [I owe my entire to theatre. Simply because, I got so many chances to practice. Playing the same character for days, I could understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-owe-my-entire-to-theatre-simply-because-i-got-so-many-chances-to/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [A concert is my experimentation time. I practice playing something several different ways, but in a concert, inevitably I get more ideas onstage, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/a-concert-is-my-experimentation-time-i-practice-playing-something/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [About 98% of the sessions I do are with a click. Just practicing to a click or metronome is a great way to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/about-98-of-the-sessions-i-do-are-with-a-click-just-practicing-to-a/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) > [As far as practicing is concerned, I usually try to do one to two hours a day. It isn't good to practice too much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-horowitz/as-far-as-practicing-is-concerned-i-usually-try-to-do-one-to-two/) [Vladimir Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-horowitz/) > [What is the most rigorous law of our being? Growth. No smallest atom of our moral, mental, or physical structure can stand still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/what-is-the-most-rigorous-law-of-our-being-growth-no-smallest-atom-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“We were lying on our backs in the foothills, watching the sky and making a list called "Never." All the things we would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzy-senna/we-were-lying-on-our-backs-in-the-foothills-watching-the-sky-and/) [Danzy Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzy-senna/) > [There are those who would misteach us that to stick in a rut is consistency - and a virtue, and that to climb out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-are-those-who-would-misteach-us-that-to-stick-in-a-rut-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [What do you do when you are stuck in a rut and you don't know what to do and you have limited time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-stuck-in-a-rut-and-you-don-t-know-what-to/) [Megan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan/) > [Top Gear' existed before Jeremy Clarkson. The programme I did was a motoring magazine. We did things about road safety, pedestrians, anything to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/top-gear-existed-before-jeremy-clarkson-the-programme-i-did-was-a/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [I never believed in the institution of marriage, because ever since I was young, I had only seen marriages fall apart, or remain stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-mulay/i-never-believed-in-the-institution-of-marriage-because-ever-since-i/) [Suhasini Mulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-mulay/) > [But Id missed the boat in rugby, I was stuck in a rut and I needed a change. I was lucky to have darts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerwyn-price/but-id-missed-the-boat-in-rugby-i-was-stuck-in-a-rut-and-i-needed-a/) [Gerwyn Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerwyn-price/) > [“Perfectionism is not of God. Anyone whose confidence relies on not making mistakes will find himself living out one or more of these realities:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-walker-wade/perfectionism-is-not-of-god-anyone-whose-confidence-relies-on-not/) [Michelle Walker-Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-walker-wade/) > [One needs to constantly read up, practice and work, irrespective of your profession. If I feel as an actor that I know everything, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/one-needs-to-constantly-read-up-practice-and-work-irrespective-of/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) ## More by John Petrucci > [If you practice in a focused, concentrated manner and make efficient use of your time, you will progress a lot faster than if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-you-practice-in-a-focused-concentrated-manner-and-make-efficient/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [In my touring rig, there's a pedal drawer, where I'm able to switch pedals in and out, going into the front of the amp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/in-my-touring-rig-there-s-a-pedal-drawer-where-i-m-able-to-switch/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Before Dream Theater took off I used to teach a lot, and one of the things my students often asked me was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/before-dream-theater-took-off-i-used-to-teach-a-lot-and-one-of-the/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I listen to somebody like Shawn Lane, and unfortunately he is no longer with us, but I hear him playing and I am like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-listen-to-somebody-like-shawn-lane-and-unfortunately-he-is-no/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm a hopeless tone chaser!I love it and get into the whole thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-a-hopeless-tone-chaser-i-love-it-and-get-into-the-whole-thing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Definitely an important aspect of my playing is keeping my hands in sync.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/definitely-an-important-aspect-of-my-playing-is-keeping-my-hands-in/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [By adding open strings to even the simplest chords, you can create voicings that sound sophisticated, but are really easy (and fun) to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/by-adding-open-strings-to-even-the-simplest-chords-you-can-create/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Sometimes just allowing yourself to noodle without any structure will enable you to stumble upon great new ideas, culminating in creating your own distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/sometimes-just-allowing-yourself-to-noodle-without-any-structure-will/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Songs come alive every night and can be a new experience for someone. You might have someone in the audience who has never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/songs-come-alive-every-night-and-can-be-a-new-experience-for-someone/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm from the school of putting a lot of hours of practice into playing. But at the same time you have to write original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-from-the-school-of-putting-a-lot-of-hours-of-practice-into/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I have to say that our fans have been absolutely wonderful all across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-have-to-say-that-our-fans-have-been-absolutely-wonderful-all-across/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I really rely a lot more on memory. I'm definitely not as good of a sight reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-really-rely-a-lot-more-on-memory-i-m-definitely-not-as-good-of-a/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [A violin neck is much smaller than the guitar's, so it's much easier to play wide intervals on one violin string. On the guitar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/a-violin-neck-is-much-smaller-than-the-guitar-s-so-it-s-much-easier/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [We are very, very fortunate to have built a career based on playing the kind of music we play. In a lot of ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/we-are-very-very-fortunate-to-have-built-a-career-based-on-playing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) [Explore all 183 John Petrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## More Help quotes > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) > [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Try to help people rather than focusing on what's in it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/try-to-help-people-rather-than-focusing-on-what-s-in-it-for-me/) [Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) [Whitney Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-daugherty/) > [To nurture the sort of relationships that will truly help propel you towards accomplishing great things, you need to forget transactional networking and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/to-nurture-the-sort-of-relationships-that-will-truly-help-propel-you/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [Obviously you help your team win by producing runs. But you also help your team win by preventing runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/obviously-you-help-your-team-win-by-producing-runs-but-you-also-help/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) [Browse all 8,763 Help quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's practice playing arpeggios, start today's with scales. Also, try to make a song out of what you're practicing to help break the tedium.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Petrucci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started-yesterday-s-practice-playing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Help" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started-yesterday-s-practice-playing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/john-petrucci-2141_help_don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started_1111871.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't get stuck in a rut. If you started yesterday's practice playing arpeggios, start today's with scales…” — John Petrucci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Petrucci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't get stuck in a rut....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started-yesterday-s-practice-playing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/don-t-get-stuck-in-a-rut-if-you-started-yesterday-s-practice-playing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```