...where do you focus? The other players hands, in the far distance, the sexy appeal of the next player or are you just watching what goes on around you???
All of the above. Well, the player next to me isn't usually a sexy one, but if he happens to be....
Most often either somebody's hands or a neutral corner of the ceiling. But my eyes wander, and sometimes close.
I close my eyes sometimes to better concentrate on what I'm doing, or what someone else is doing. But usually my eyes wander around. I try not to look at the other players until it's time for a change, though, because when you look at someone they might think that you're trying to communicate something to them... If there's a TV on, that tends to grab my focus.
i am usually so focused on listening to the tunes and changes, as our sets are never *set*, that i generally have my eyes closed or find myself watching other players' hands, like our fiddlers' fingers or the flute player's hands. not that these visuals translate to anything at all in my pea brain! maybe it gives me a sense of the life in the music.
I got the impression as I left that said black dog was given a lifetime ban at the end of the evening.
If you'd sat in the "quiet corner", Richard, you could have watched a couple of girls dancing instead! Obviously I was far too busy concentrating on what was being played to do that....
Yes to all of that. I close my eyes when I have to concentrate. I make faces at my buddies when I don't. I look at the customers, the bartenders, the servers, the decorations on the wall. I scowl at my empty pint glass or grin at my full one.
I like to smile at the other players too. The whole experience just makes me happy so I'm usually smiling, and what good is a smile if you don't share it?
Of course, if your eyes are closed, you will miss all the interesting stuff, the dog humping the leg, the girls dancing in the corner, the winks and nods for "on to another tune" or "I like that bit you just did" or "let's finish with this one..." etc..
If you are aware of what else is going on, you are not doing the music justice. And you do not need to look out for changes, if you can count up to three. Mind you, three of my outfit can't.
"I look the ground!! I don't like to see wonderful women who disturb me in my concentration:p "
Ah yes, and some of them so skillfully avoid all eye contact. But just keep looking the other way for a couple of minutes and then suddenly turn you head and there you are
well....the farther i get into concertina and that whole rubik's cube thing, the more i am starting to roll my eyes upwards like linda blair in 'the exorcist".....
I look at the musicians i am playing with. carefully. If you arnt looking at me and all then you need to up your game.
play less tunes, better. till you can do it unconsciously. then you can start playing real music!
Give and take, like passing a ball, juggling,.we play with dynamics,a lot; quiet, loud. gentle, hard. together. apart.
Believe me after 30yrs plus, daily , i know what i am talking about.
you are welcome.
But the advice is so that next time we session together you are paying attention!
It a bit like a conversation, if you look down all the time! ............
the technical aspects of the tunes,are the starting ground for your personal touch.
If you are playing ensemble, then the personal touch is part of the group sound;the group`feel`.
If i am playing alone i could be watching tell, or the left/right hand, or the baby......whatever.
Am I the only fiddler who has to look at my fingers while I'm playing? That is if it isn't a new tune I need to look at the notes for! I think it's the way I learn. Only when I've been playing a tune for ages can I do it with my eyes closed - there's a proverb there I think.
ok, but that piece is a gig,prearranged.not a session. in fact if one changed tune when they hadnt agreed you can be sure the other would open their eyes!.......nice playing . thats what i like about trad. brilliant. any how at 2.29 yer man opens his eyes and looks to his mate for the change.......
Do you play eyes closed or....
Do you play eyes closed or....
...where do you focus? The other players hands, in the far distance, the sexy appeal of the next player or are you just watching what goes on around you???
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by Risto
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
All of the above. Well, the player next to me isn't usually a sexy one, but if he happens to be....
Most often either somebody's hands or a neutral corner of the ceiling. But my eyes wander, and sometimes close.
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by seisflutes
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I just stare into the air. Or sometimes I watch what I'm doing.
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by camwebby
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I'm usually scowling at a bodhran player or guitar accompanist.
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I usually watch the whistle player and try to figure out what he's doing. I play flute but I can't seem to see what the fluters are doing.
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by sbhikes
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I close my eyes sometimes to better concentrate on what I'm doing, or what someone else is doing. But usually my eyes wander around. I try not to look at the other players until it's time for a change, though, because when you look at someone they might think that you're trying to communicate something to them... If there's a TV on, that tends to grab my focus.
Pete
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/15343
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
i am usually so focused on listening to the tunes and changes, as our sets are never *set*, that i generally have my eyes closed or find myself watching other players' hands, like our fiddlers' fingers or the flute player's hands. not that these visuals translate to anything at all in my pea brain! maybe it gives me a sense of the life in the music.
jd...AKA...one of the dreaded backers!!!
# Posted on October 8th 2007 by trad2nz
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Only when I'm asleep.
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
The lead singer from the band the Commitments has the facial expressions I often strive for.
Oh and watch your accents ladies it's "Ride Sally Ride";
'Not Roid Sally Roid!
cheers
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Frunobulax
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I close my eyes so as to avoid watching one of the guitarist's dogs humping his leg
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
he still has that rat like thing then?
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Plus last night a different rather huge black dog, very docile but very smelly.
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I got the impression as I left that said black dog was given a lifetime ban at the end of the evening.
If you'd sat in the "quiet corner", Richard, you could have watched a couple of girls dancing instead! Obviously I was far too busy concentrating on what was being played to do that....
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Ceratonia
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Yes to all of that. I close my eyes when I have to concentrate. I make faces at my buddies when I don't. I look at the customers, the bartenders, the servers, the decorations on the wall. I scowl at my empty pint glass or grin at my full one.
I like to smile at the other players too. The whole experience just makes me happy so I'm usually smiling, and what good is a smile if you don't share it?
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Never mind the eyes - what is really unfortunate is people (and you meet a few) who don't seem to have their ears open.
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Jeeves Tones
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
You do know what to do if a large dog starts humping your leg ( in a session or out of it ) don't you ?
Fake an orgasm.....
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Of course, if your eyes are closed, you will miss all the interesting stuff, the dog humping the leg, the girls dancing in the corner, the winks and nods for "on to another tune" or "I like that bit you just did" or "let's finish with this one..." etc..
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
A lot of college girls come to our pub, so....there's lots to look at.
# Posted on October 9th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
When in a session I just stare at something and when I get close to the 3rd round of the tune I get back to my focus.
When doing gig I tend to close my eyes since the whole "picture the audience naked" didn't do the trick..
# Posted on October 10th 2007 by thesheep
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
If you are aware of what else is going on, you are not doing the music justice. And you do not need to look out for changes, if you can count up to three. Mind you, three of my outfit can't.
# Posted on October 10th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I look the ground!!
I don't like to see wonderful women who disturb me in my concentration:p
# Posted on October 10th 2007 by RoLuPiN
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
"I look the ground!! I don't like to see wonderful women who disturb me in my concentration:p "
Ah yes, and some of them so skillfully avoid all eye contact. But just keep looking the other way for a couple of minutes and then suddenly turn you head and there you are
# Posted on October 10th 2007 by Risto
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
well....the farther i get into concertina and that whole rubik's cube thing, the more i am starting to roll my eyes upwards like linda blair in 'the exorcist".....
# Posted on October 11th 2007 by ceemonster
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
I look at the musicians i am playing with. carefully. If you arnt looking at me and all then you need to up your game.
play less tunes, better. till you can do it unconsciously. then you can start playing real music!
Give and take, like passing a ball, juggling,.we play with dynamics,a lot; quiet, loud. gentle, hard. together. apart.
Believe me after 30yrs plus, daily , i know what i am talking about.
# Posted on October 11th 2007 by jig
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Thanks for the advice, jig. That was generous of you.
# Posted on October 11th 2007 by grego
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
you are welcome.
But the advice is so that next time we session together you are paying attention!
It a bit like a conversation, if you look down all the time! ............
the technical aspects of the tunes,are the starting ground for your personal touch.
If you are playing ensemble, then the personal touch is part of the group sound;the group`feel`.
If i am playing alone i could be watching tell, or the left/right hand, or the baby......whatever.
# Posted on October 12th 2007 by jig
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Am I the only fiddler who has to look at my fingers while I'm playing? That is if it isn't a new tune I need to look at the notes for! I think it's the way I learn. Only when I've been playing a tune for ages can I do it with my eyes closed - there's a proverb there I think.
# Posted on October 13th 2007 by FiddleFi
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
These guys want to play eyes closed:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_227_4_micheal_o_raghallaigh_and_danny_omahoney/
# Posted on October 14th 2007 by Risto
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Good advice, tradthingie. Where WOULD we be without you!
# Posted on October 14th 2007 by Steve Shaw
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
Great players of course (to avoid any missunderstanding of my meaning).
# Posted on October 14th 2007 by Risto
Re: Do you play eyes closed or....
ok, but that piece is a gig,prearranged.not a session. in fact if one changed tune when they hadnt agreed you can be sure the other would open their eyes!.......nice playing . thats what i like about trad. brilliant. any how at 2.29 yer man opens his eyes and looks to his mate for the change.......
# Posted on October 20th 2007 by jig