I've just been away for a two week holiday and did not take my fiddle. I have noticed that after a break it does seem to take some time to "get back into it". I seem to ache after about 30 minutes playing, find holding the bow awkward and find it generally hard work. It takes a few evenings to get back to playing more relaxed. Does any one elso notice this and have any tips for "playing in" again. I just usually play old favourites that i know well.
My band has just returned from a tour of the Highlands and Islands so I was playing every day and had a great time...I know this is not quite the same thing but that is all the "holiday" I'm getting until Christmas so it counts for me.
It's not just you that needs to "get into it" either...the fiddle will tighten up if not played for a while and has to be nursed out of its sulk.
The Outer Hebrides are amazing btw...I'd never been to the outer islands before. Great scenery and wonderfully hospitable audiences.
I was away without my banjo for 3 weeks in August, and found it hard enough when i picked it up again. I was back to my briliant best after a few days though?.........
To Geoff, i would imagine that the outer Hebrides are beautiful, but my recollection of them is sailing around them on a tanker in winter, trying to get to the north sea in horrendous weather.Absolutely horrible in January i can assure you. It's a place that makes me cringe everytime i hear of them.I know somebody that went there on hols and like you find them beautiful.
Actually Geoff's comments have led me to thinking the converse (glad you enjoyed the Outer Hebrides, though Geoff), that if you play constantly from morning till......well, the next morning, really, day after day, as you do at fleadhanna, etc., does anyone get sore fingers wrists, etc.? That, I now remember, was one of the reasons I ended up going back to the Silver flute, as I had a computer mouse generated RSI, severely exacerbated by constant playing wooden flute with the extra stretch required, and not helped by the Guinness...
After 2 weeks humming/whistling tunes, I can't wait to get back on the box and play them for real (reel?). You will all be pleased to know I didn't take piano accordion on holiday with me and the wife hid the concertinas so I couldn't take those either.
I guess I'm lucky as I never get sore fingers or wrists. Sore head occasionally but that's my own fault....too many single malts on offer in all good Island pubs.
Danny! Do you find you have the same ability to ornament on the silver flute as the wooden one. A friend I use to play with said that she found certain ornaments easier on her wooden one.
(I've always found crans difficult on my silver, orchestral rain stick but the wooden one is a different story).
Sore fingers? Get enough of them on this site these days...Geoff, it's never going to be as good, the silver vis-a-vis wooden yoke. The fingers are in direct contact with the holes, so the effect is immediate, with the wooden fellow. But there are some plusses: the metal chap tends to be louder, more in tune with itself, and (in my view) easier to play (which was the original idea), which, if you have an RSI, means a lot.
Being a newbie to playing any kind of music, I find it hard skip more than one day of playing so I take my flute with me everywhere I go.
During my first year of playing wooden flute, I came down with some terrible wrist/hand pain and went to all kinds of doctors. I had to take almost a 3 month break from playing. (I think part of it was not having a classical silver flute background so my wrists and hands were not used to this type of activity) Getting back into the music was really shaky at first, but after a few weeks I was able to pick up from where I left off. So just be patient when picking up your instrument after you have a break from playing. It will all come back......
I'm here in Cornwall on my vacation--I did bring the fiddle, but haven't had much of a chance to play. I don't want to disturb anyone in the youth hostel, and you aren't really encouraged to hang out there during the day. I usually practice everyday, maybe I can practice out in a field or something....don't want to get rusty...ok, see you all soon--my time on this computer (in the laundromat in Penzance) is running out......
Andee - I haven't stay in a youth hostel with my flute, but I found that in B&B's (both in US & Ireland) it's ok to practice. But I always ask first which goes a long way. I usually practice in the afternoon or right before dinner so not to disturb other guests. Plus I limit the practice to just an hour at a time.
Last spring when we were in Co. Mayo for a festival, the owner of the B&B (a sweet older widow) loved hearing me practice my flute. The last day she asked me and a couple other flute players who were also staying there to play for her and her sister after breakfast. It turned out to be a lovely morning and I got to play with some nice flute players from Dublin.
Hey guys! I did find a little wooded area by a stream near the hostel to play at--played until the mosquitos came out in full force. Yeah, Helen it's sunny and beautiful down here. If I had more time I'd invite myself up to London to visit you
Playing after a holiday
Playing after a holiday
I've just been away for a two week holiday and did not take my fiddle. I have noticed that after a break it does seem to take some time to "get back into it". I seem to ache after about 30 minutes playing, find holding the bow awkward and find it generally hard work. It takes a few evenings to get back to playing more relaxed. Does any one elso notice this and have any tips for "playing in" again. I just usually play old favourites that i know well.
# Posted on August 31st 2003 by Daver
Re: Playing after a holiday
My tip:
Don't Panic.
It'll come back, sooner than you realise.
Good luck
# Posted on August 31st 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Playing after a holiday
takes about three days, always sooner than you'd have thought!
DON'T FORCE !
# Posted on August 31st 2003 by Henk Bos
Re: Playing after a holiday
Why not take your instrument on holiday with you?
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Conway
Re: Playing after a holiday
My band has just returned from a tour of the Highlands and Islands so I was playing every day and had a great time...I know this is not quite the same thing but that is all the "holiday" I'm getting until Christmas so it counts for me.
It's not just you that needs to "get into it" either...the fiddle will tighten up if not played for a while and has to be nursed out of its sulk.
The Outer Hebrides are amazing btw...I'd never been to the outer islands before. Great scenery and wonderfully hospitable audiences.
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Playing after a holiday
I was away without my banjo for 3 weeks in August, and found it hard enough when i picked it up again. I was back to my briliant best after a few days though?.........
To Geoff, i would imagine that the outer Hebrides are beautiful, but my recollection of them is sailing around them on a tanker in winter, trying to get to the north sea in horrendous weather.Absolutely horrible in January i can assure you. It's a place that makes me cringe everytime i hear of them.I know somebody that went there on hols and like you find them beautiful.
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Celtic1234
Re: Playing after a holiday
Actually Geoff's comments have led me to thinking the converse (glad you enjoyed the Outer Hebrides, though Geoff), that if you play constantly from morning till......well, the next morning, really, day after day, as you do at fleadhanna, etc., does anyone get sore fingers wrists, etc.? That, I now remember, was one of the reasons I ended up going back to the Silver flute, as I had a computer mouse generated RSI, severely exacerbated by constant playing wooden flute with the extra stretch required, and not helped by the Guinness...
Danny.
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Playing after a holiday
After 2 weeks humming/whistling tunes, I can't wait to get back on the box and play them for real (reel?). You will all be pleased to know I didn't take piano accordion on holiday with me and the wife hid the concertinas so I couldn't take those either.
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by geoffwright
Re: Playing after a holiday
I guess I'm lucky as I never get sore fingers or wrists. Sore head occasionally but that's my own fault....too many single malts on offer in all good Island pubs.
Danny! Do you find you have the same ability to ornament on the silver flute as the wooden one. A friend I use to play with said that she found certain ornaments easier on her wooden one.
(I've always found crans difficult on my silver, orchestral rain stick but the wooden one is a different story).
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Playing after a holiday
Sore fingers? Get enough of them on this site these days...Geoff, it's never going to be as good, the silver vis-a-vis wooden yoke. The fingers are in direct contact with the holes, so the effect is immediate, with the wooden fellow. But there are some plusses: the metal chap tends to be louder, more in tune with itself, and (in my view) easier to play (which was the original idea), which, if you have an RSI, means a lot.
Danny.
# Posted on September 1st 2003 by Rudall the time
Re: Playing after a holiday
Good one Danny ; )
Being a newbie to playing any kind of music, I find it hard skip more than one day of playing so I take my flute with me everywhere I go.
During my first year of playing wooden flute, I came down with some terrible wrist/hand pain and went to all kinds of doctors. I had to take almost a 3 month break from playing. (I think part of it was not having a classical silver flute background so my wrists and hands were not used to this type of activity) Getting back into the music was really shaky at first, but after a few weeks I was able to pick up from where I left off. So just be patient when picking up your instrument after you have a break from playing. It will all come back......
Joyce
# Posted on September 2nd 2003 by JMH
Re: Playing after a holiday
I'm here in Cornwall on my vacation--I did bring the fiddle, but haven't had much of a chance to play. I don't want to disturb anyone in the youth hostel, and you aren't really encouraged to hang out there during the day. I usually practice everyday, maybe I can practice out in a field or something....don't want to get rusty...ok, see you all soon--my time on this computer (in the laundromat in Penzance) is running out......
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Andee
Re: Playing after a holiday
Hi Andee, hope you're having a great time down in Cornwall! It's sunny here in London - wish I could skive off and come down there too...
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Nell
Re: Playing after a holiday
I find playing slow for a few days helps....
# Posted on September 3rd 2003 by Pendlebitty
Re: Playing after a holiday
Andee - I haven't stay in a youth hostel with my flute, but I found that in B&B's (both in US & Ireland) it's ok to practice. But I always ask first which goes a long way. I usually practice in the afternoon or right before dinner so not to disturb other guests. Plus I limit the practice to just an hour at a time.
Last spring when we were in Co. Mayo for a festival, the owner of the B&B (a sweet older widow) loved hearing me practice my flute. The last day she asked me and a couple other flute players who were also staying there to play for her and her sister after breakfast. It turned out to be a lovely morning and I got to play with some nice flute players from Dublin.
Joyce
# Posted on September 4th 2003 by JMH
Re: Playing after a holiday
Hey guys! I did find a little wooded area by a stream near the hostel to play at--played until the mosquitos came out in full force. Yeah, Helen it's sunny and beautiful down here. If I had more time I'd invite myself up to London to visit you
# Posted on September 5th 2003 by Andee