Hi Maurice. People tend to find ways to practice that suits them best. I love jammiing over backtrack so I do allot of that. I always make sure I know exactly where I am on the fretboard and what interval I am playing at all times. I also write out stuff on fretboard charts. Right now I am writing out two note double stops for each string set for all twelve keys. I am 53 and one of the guys on Kirks' other forums started playing at 73 so your never too old. If I could make a suggestion. Buy Kirks' book
Plane Talk. I did and it cut years off the time it takes to improve. One thing you would learn is to play the A chord anywhere on the neck in whatever way feels best to your fingers.
allthumbs