I think this has been discussed before...I'm getting that slight feeling of deja-vu. There will be some who believe it to be the height of pretension whereby musicians try to give the impression that they are communing with the cosmos and feeling the music to the core of their souls. Personally, I close my eyes on those rare occasions when I notice that somebody is looking at me and it's putting me off. Of course it doesn't work. Once I've noticed them looking the self-consciousness kicks in. Or if somebody is trying to make me laugh.
I know this is weird, but if I close my eyes I can hear myself better! I have a slight hearing loss and sometimes it's difficult to hear my fiddle. If I close my eyes it sounds louder.
I dunno, I do sometimes, only when I'm playing slow airs though, not really sure why, I think it makes me feel less self conscious and I can put more feeling into it (purely psychological, don't ask)
Also, practically, I think it's a good thing for beginner fiddlers to try doing, just because it helps you get a feel for where to put your fingers on the fingerboard without concentrating on it too hard. Not saying you have to do it or anything to get a good feeling of your violin but it helped me a lot.
I do, because I am self conscious leading tunes. I haven't been playing for that long, so I suppose if I shut my eyes I'm kidding myself it's just me in the room. If I wanted to pose I'd look round at everyone.......
Sometimes when I am playing complicated parts I will close my eyes to concentrate, I guess.
There was one time I was concentrating and staring at a painting behind the bar. When I came out of the trance, I noticed there was a young lady right in front of the painting at the bar giving me a suggestive smile as if I had been staring at her!! I spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling. I couldn't close my eyes because I didn't want Mrs. Feardearg sneaking up and slapping me on the back of the head.
I sympathise feardearg, when I really concentrate I sometimes stare vacantly in front of me (sometimes grimacing, drooling or twitching). A number of times I have found that I've unwittingly been staring at somebody, to their obvious distress. More to the point, I also some times close my eyes, as I feel this helps me to hear myself better when I'm struggling with a tune ( my usual state).
I remember one guy who would play with his eyes shut and a rapt expression on his face, but I think it was because he had a lot of wacky baccy on the drive in.
"I shut my eyes from time to time while playing because it gives me the look of someone really cool, like I'm just so flippin' cool I can play and not have to open my eyes."
...anyway, for real, I close my eyes periodically while playing because it helps me concentrate.
If the part of the tune is really hard and I need to concentrate, I close my eyes so I don't have to look at the guitarist making funny faces at me trying to mess me up, the incredibly attractive barmaid with the REALLY short skirt, the cute little kid dancing and laughing, hearing the music for the first time, etc. etc.
"Plus 'bro, I get to float with the cosmos and become one with the musical wonderment of existence...'bro."
I too often sing with my eyes shut.
I second the comment about missing visible cues from the other musicians. PLUS just because you can count up to three, doesn't mean anyone else can. I know some people who are never sure how many A and B parts have been played.....
It is one of my mottoes; "Any good tune is worth playing three times."
The real handy skill is "closing the ears" when sitting next to someone not in tune, in rhythm, noodling along or asking how long you have been playing.
I like to look around at the session to see what's going on ... mind you - in general there is not much to see, with most people just lifting their eyes up whenever the tune is about to change.
In noisy environments or in sessions that are widespread I try to look at visual cues such as bowing or foot stamping of the one leading the tune to make sure I play in sync. If someone next to me is speeding or off beat I find these cues valuable in order to contribute with the right rhythm.
I recently went to a workshop with a brilliant fiddler. He had been performing at a concert onstage the night before, mostly with his eyes shut. In between tunes he was at ease, joking with the audience. I asked him why he shut his eyes while performing and then he cracked another joke on what possible disasters might materialize if he allowed himself to be distracted by a beautiful babe <elaborating qualities> on front row...
I close my eyes only when I sing....
I think it's to help me emote better... and to make sure I'm in tune.
I never sing at sessions, though - too embarrassing.
Because our bodran player thinks its really funny to do stuff to make the whistle player laugh in the middle of a tune. I have to close my eyes to keep from laughing -- though doesn't always work. I also close my eyes to help with concentration against players with bad rhythm. Basically, if my eyes are closed, someone's annoying the sh*t out of me ; )
I play with my eyes closed if I'm playing on my own but usually play with them open and stare blankly at the ground in a session. As the night goes on and I get tired, then I tend to close them and it feels like I'm getting a rest though I do have to open them again when the point of tune changing comes up.
I wish I would play with my eyes closed. Ever since the new owners put in four large plasma TVs (there used to be one small tube TV way over in the far corner on the other side of the bar), I find that my eyes are drawn inexorably to one or the other of them. There's one in every direction, it seems, and they're all flashing "look at me!"
i do it on occasion if i'm playing alone or front & center in some way, to try and keep myself from getting rattled and flubbing the tune.....but i try not to do it much because i think it looks asinine and i already look like linda blair in "the exorcist" when playing
I do when leading a tune and being distracted by the concertina player who doesnt quite know the tune. Keep the focus and stops me from dropping into following him.
I'm of the feardearg brigade - I stare blankly unseeing until I'm brought back to the here and now, only to realise I'm staring at some strangers lower regions - can get a bit dicey
More to the point, anyone come across 'hummers'? And I don't mean those UGLY UGLY veeehicles either. I mean the person who hums random notes while playing....? That can be quite distracting...
In relation to nnicharras question, there is a bodhran player I know who apparently hums the tunes he's backing. I've never heard him humming myself but the piper that told me claims he does!
The last time we discussed this, I thought the consensus was that folks who closed their eyes were posers, who were trying to make it a performance instead of a session, or something like that!
Once saw a flute palyer about to change to a new tune practically put her foot on the table. (Everyone else I know shouts a key or just listens and follows) Is that posing?
How many people ...
How many people ...
play with their eyes closed and why?
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Kheelch
Re: How many people ...
Have you BEEN to our session??!?
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: How many people ...
I think this has been discussed before...I'm getting that slight feeling of deja-vu. There will be some who believe it to be the height of pretension whereby musicians try to give the impression that they are communing with the cosmos and feeling the music to the core of their souls. Personally, I close my eyes on those rare occasions when I notice that somebody is looking at me and it's putting me off. Of course it doesn't work. Once I've noticed them looking the self-consciousness kicks in. Or if somebody is trying to make me laugh.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by sergeant fox
Re: How many people ...
I know this is weird, but if I close my eyes I can hear myself better! I have a slight hearing loss and sometimes it's difficult to hear my fiddle. If I close my eyes it sounds louder.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by c.g.
Re: How many people ...
The trouble with closed eyes is you miss the body language of the other musicians when it´s time to change to another tune.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by murfbox
Re: How many people ...
I play with my eyes open but I type with em shut, if fact o djnn jfbe ohh if you can believe it.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Plunkett.mi
Re: How many people ...
I dunno, I do sometimes, only when I'm playing slow airs though, not really sure why, I think it makes me feel less self conscious and I can put more feeling into it (purely psychological, don't ask)
Also, practically, I think it's a good thing for beginner fiddlers to try doing, just because it helps you get a feel for where to put your fingers on the fingerboard without concentrating on it too hard. Not saying you have to do it or anything to get a good feeling of your violin but it helped me a lot.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by dannym
Re: How many people ...
I do, because I am self conscious leading tunes. I haven't been playing for that long, so I suppose if I shut my eyes I'm kidding myself it's just me in the room. If I wanted to pose I'd look round at everyone.......
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by mehere
Re: How many people ...
Sometimes when I am playing complicated parts I will close my eyes to concentrate, I guess.
There was one time I was concentrating and staring at a painting behind the bar. When I came out of the trance, I noticed there was a young lady right in front of the painting at the bar giving me a suggestive smile as if I had been staring at her!! I spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling. I couldn't close my eyes because I didn't want Mrs. Feardearg sneaking up and slapping me on the back of the head.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by feardearg
Re: How many people ...
I sympathise feardearg, when I really concentrate I sometimes stare vacantly in front of me (sometimes grimacing, drooling or twitching). A number of times I have found that I've unwittingly been staring at somebody, to their obvious distress. More to the point, I also some times close my eyes, as I feel this helps me to hear myself better when I'm struggling with a tune ( my usual state).
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by len
Re: How many people ...
I remember one guy who would play with his eyes shut and a rapt expression on his face, but I think it was because he had a lot of wacky baccy on the drive in.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by nicholas
Re: How many people ...
I do. As for possibly missing the body language for changing tunes, I can count up to three.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many people ...
I don't play with my eyes shut, but I sing with them shut. Don't know why.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Tracie
Re: How many people ...
I did so in the past because the bloody smoke would sting my eyes, now I tend to do it because I'm tired, and most sessions are way after my bedtime.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Backer
Re: How many people ...
I play with my eyes shut, too. Dunno why...
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Farr
Re: How many people ...
"I shut my eyes from time to time while playing because it gives me the look of someone really cool, like I'm just so flippin' cool I can play and not have to open my eyes."
...anyway, for real, I close my eyes periodically while playing because it helps me concentrate.
If the part of the tune is really hard and I need to concentrate, I close my eyes so I don't have to look at the guitarist making funny faces at me trying to mess me up, the incredibly attractive barmaid with the REALLY short skirt, the cute little kid dancing and laughing, hearing the music for the first time, etc. etc.
"Plus 'bro, I get to float with the cosmos and become one with the musical wonderment of existence...'bro."
No really, it's for concentration purposes.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: How many people ...
I too often sing with my eyes shut.
I second the comment about missing visible cues from the other musicians. PLUS just because you can count up to three, doesn't mean anyone else can. I know some people who are never sure how many A and B parts have been played.....
It is one of my mottoes; "Any good tune is worth playing three times."
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: How many people ...
Like hell you're trying NOT to look at the barmaid with the short skirt...
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Joe CSS
Re: How many people ...
Bodhran players know the A,B,C,D,E and F parts of tunes. It is because we concentrate and listen, unlike show off "musicians".
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: How many people ...
The real handy skill is "closing the ears" when sitting next to someone not in tune, in rhythm, noodling along or asking how long you have been playing.
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by feardearg
Re: How many people ...
When I start seeing twice as many fingers on twice as many strings, (or holes) it trips me up, but if I close my eyes I can still keep playing...
# Posted on April 10th 2007 by Innocent Bystander
Re: How many people ...
I like to look around at the session to see what's going on ... mind you - in general there is not much to see, with most people just lifting their eyes up whenever the tune is about to change.
In noisy environments or in sessions that are widespread I try to look at visual cues such as bowing or foot stamping of the one leading the tune to make sure I play in sync. If someone next to me is speeding or off beat I find these cues valuable in order to contribute with the right rhythm.
I recently went to a workshop with a brilliant fiddler. He had been performing at a concert onstage the night before, mostly with his eyes shut. In between tunes he was at ease, joking with the audience. I asked him why he shut his eyes while performing and then he cracked another joke on what possible disasters might materialize if he allowed himself to be distracted by a beautiful babe <elaborating qualities> on front row...
So just do whatever works for you..
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by MrGanAinm
Re: How many people ...
I close my eyes only when I sing....
I think it's to help me emote better... and to make sure I'm in tune.
I never sing at sessions, though - too embarrassing.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by morning star
Re: How many people ...
Because our bodran player thinks its really funny to do stuff to make the whistle player laugh in the middle of a tune. I have to close my eyes to keep from laughing -- though doesn't always work. I also close my eyes to help with concentration against players with bad rhythm. Basically, if my eyes are closed, someone's annoying the sh*t out of me ; )
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by zoetrope
Re: How many people ...
I play with my eyes closed if I'm playing on my own but usually play with them open and stare blankly at the ground in a session. As the night goes on and I get tired, then I tend to close them and it feels like I'm getting a rest though I do have to open them again when the point of tune changing comes up.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: How many people ...
In my opinion so much can be learned about rhythm from watching musicians play.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Saint
Re: How many people ...
I wish I would play with my eyes closed. Ever since the new owners put in four large plasma TVs (there used to be one small tube TV way over in the far corner on the other side of the bar), I find that my eyes are drawn inexorably to one or the other of them. There's one in every direction, it seems, and they're all flashing "look at me!"
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by GaryAMartin
Re: How many people ...
i do it on occasion if i'm playing alone or front & center in some way, to try and keep myself from getting rattled and flubbing the tune.....but i try not to do it much because i think it looks asinine and i already look like linda blair in "the exorcist" when playing
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by ceemonster
Re: How many people ...
If I played wth my eyes closed, someone would clip my pint.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: How many people ...
I do when leading a tune and being distracted by the concertina player who doesnt quite know the tune. Keep the focus and stops me from dropping into following him.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Joze
Re: How many people ...
I'm of the feardearg brigade - I stare blankly unseeing until I'm brought back to the here and now, only to realise I'm staring at some strangers lower regions - can get a bit dicey
More to the point, anyone come across 'hummers'? And I don't mean those UGLY UGLY veeehicles either. I mean the person who hums random notes while playing....? That can be quite distracting...
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by nnicharra
Re: How many people ...
i do because i know if i can see my fingers ill be worried that my fingers arent covering all the holes properly. (pipes and whistles)
also theres a guy next to me with a very loud whistle and its hard to hear myself so i have to concentrate to hear myself.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Kevo32A
Re: How many people ...
In relation to nnicharras question, there is a bodhran player I know who apparently hums the tunes he's backing. I've never heard him humming myself but the piper that told me claims he does!
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by 52Paddy
Re: How many people ...
How many people play with their ears closed?
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by ragaman
Re: How many people ...
Spoon, I am quite sure if there are X players in any session I'm playing in then that number is X-1
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: How many people ...
The last time we discussed this, I thought the consensus was that folks who closed their eyes were posers, who were trying to make it a performance instead of a session, or something like that!
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: How many people ...
Once saw a flute palyer about to change to a new tune practically put her foot on the table. (Everyone else I know shouts a key or just listens and follows) Is that posing?
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by mehere
Re: How many people ...
If she was wearing a short skirt and no knickers, almost definitely ...
I'll get my coat....
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Ottery
Re: How many people ...
Oh no, Mrs. O. has seen what I've written! - that's another night out of the Holt and in the nettles for me
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Ottery
Re: How many people ...
There's an obvious joke - something about otters and what he was *really* thinking of ... but I think I'll leave it there ...
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: How many people ...
On the otter hand......
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: How many people ...
I thought about this thread at the Pub last night. I used to close my eyes to avoid distrations. Now closing my eyes is a distraction.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by feardearg
Re: How many people ...
I thought it was a badger
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: How many people ...
I presume it wasn't a coffee table?...
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by nnicharra
Re: How many people ...
This site is full of wannabee perverts - Beavering away to come up with something smutty .....
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Ottery