The PORA Method:
Transform Your Practice in Just 5 Minutes!

You can download Ari’s step-by-step guide for PORA one sheet. Print it and hang it up in your practice room for easy reference. 

Get me the download
 

Are you stuck in a rut with your bass practice?
Struggling with bad habits, tension, or lack of focus?

The PORA method (Principles of Rotating Attention) is a game-changing technique that can help you break through barriers and make your practice sessions more effective, efficient, and even fun!

PORA is a proven method inspired by habit change psychology and practicing techniques classical musicians often use. It’s adapted for bass players and was tested on bass players.

It’s designed to help you change habits, improve focus, and optimize your practice in just a few minutes a day.

 

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: The Setup

 
  • Choose a short piece of music (a bar, phrase, scale, or arpeggio). Keep it simple—this is just the “vehicle” for your practice.
  • Write down up to 4 specific items to focus on. These could include, for example:
    • Right-hand technique (e.g., alternating plucking).
    • Posture (e.g., relax your shoulders).
    • Timing (e.g., play precisely on the click).
    • Fingering (e.g., one-finger-per-fret positioning).
  • Let’s use these three for our example:
    1. Alternating plucking.
    2. Relax shoulders.
    3. Play on the click.

Step 2: The PORA Process

 
  1. Play the phrase focusing only on Item 1 (e.g., RH alternating plucking). Ignore everything else for now—even if timing or posture is off!
  2. Repeat the phrase focusing only on Item 2 (e.g., relaxing your shoulders).
  3. Continue rotating through all items on your list, one at a time.
Each round should take just a few seconds, but the intense focus will feel like a “workout” for your brain and hands!
 

Step 3: Pause and Evaluate

After completing one cycle of focus items, pause for a moment to reflect:
  • Did you notice improvement in any area?
  • Were there any unexpected challenges?
Be kind to yourself—this is about progress, not perfection!
 

Step 4: Repeat and Reinforce

Go back to Step 1 and repeat the process. Stick with the same focus items until you’ve registered improvement before moving on to new ones. 

Why PORA Works

  • Laser Focus: By isolating one issue at a time, you give it your full attention without distractions.
  • Habit Transformation: Repeated focus rewires your brain to replace old habits with better ones.
  • Short and Effective: Just 5 minutes of PORA can achieve more than hours of unfocused practice!Let’s use these ttttt


Get Your Free PORA Cheat Sheet!

Want to keep this method handy during practice? I’ve created a FREE one-page guide  that outlines all the steps of PORA for quick reference. 
Print it out and hang it in your practice room! 

👉 Enter your email below to download your free guide now and take your bass playing to the next level!

Start using the PORA method today—you’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make in just a few focused minutes each time you practice! 🎸