The Session >> Discussions >> Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Comments
Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Help, I'm caught up in a practicing frenzy!!!!
Have you ever gotten so wound up, trying to achieve a goal -- maybe a 'great leap forward' on your instrument, that after a while you start to feel like you stuck your thumb in an electric outlet????
I think it gets counterproductive at a certain point, but by that time, I'm so wound up, trying to achieve this goal, it's hard to 'unplug' myself.
First I think I'm make tremendous leaps forward -- I'm so happy -- congratulating myself as in "I never thought I'd be able to play like this." BUT WAIT. There's a dangerous curve coming. I've been working on a set of four reels.
I SWITCH TUNES because I'm tired of playing the same thing. WHAT HAPPENED. This other set of tunes doesn't come off quite as easily. UH OH. I'm NO GOOD. I'll NEVER EVER be able to play the fiddle the way I want to.
I KNOW --- I know what to do. I'LL PRACTICE. I'll just go sit down with the fiddle and practice those damned cross string bowings for ten hours, until I've played them with every possible different cross-string pattern known to human beings.
OH GOD, I've got next door neighbors. They're usually so wonderfully nice. They never ever ever complain about my fiddle practicing. But I'm going to make a bet with myself that I can drive even them -- the most laid back folks in the world -- absolutely nuts. Here I go: One down three up; three down one up; one up three down, three up one down; again, again, again, ..............................................................
Wait, should this sound smoother? No wait -- should this sound more stacatto? Do I have the accent in the right place???? I better try it again. Hmmmmm...... I better do that again.........UM.........
Oh thank God, I just realized, I'm allowed to take an Ativan at this hour. That should help,
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
It takes time for new patterns to sink in.
Sometimes it might take one sleep. Sometimes you get a
breakthrough 6 weeks after an intense bout. Sometimes
if you don't play for week or so, bad habits are forgotten and you
have a little breakthrough when you come back. I guess you
should keep in mind this ITM stuff is for **fun** - at least for
most us on the yella board.
I have done this on two instruments and two "musics" and
Henk is right for sure
.When I was doing classical as a young fella it got out of
hand and it stopped being fun -- especially when I came up
against my limited talent.
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
There are days where I assemble my flute at 10am, play for 45 minutes, lay it down because I lost motivation, only to feel the sting of "getting that tune right" ten minutes later, this procedure will continue until about 9pm, so yes, I kind of know what you're talking about
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
We all have a love-hate relationship with our instruments from time to time. And I know all about neighbors taking an interest in your practicing- especially when I unleash my GHB late in the evening after all in the house have gone to bed...
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
That's the side of the instument Herself hates. When you get on a roll. Or the Muse arrives several hours later than you originally intended and you start a marathon practice completely out of the normal cycle of the household.
The kids force me to play next to the boiler when they come in town and I want to practice at odd hours. Sort of strange that they always kept us awake at odd hours first as babies and then as partying high schoolers!
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
It has been my experience that things take time. I will work on something, and it just will not work, I sleep on it, time passes (a day, or so) and suddenly, it is a whole lot easier. I think that there is a part of the learning process that is associated with sleep. (Not that I know, I make things up and it is often hard to tell the difference) I personally find that some every day (even 5 or 10 minutes) is more effective than a chunk from time to time. As I watched my kids learn to play, it occurred to me that it takes about 5 years of day to day playing to get to the point where you can do as you please with an instrument. People will quibble about the numbers, but I expect that the range is huge.
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
I experienced it after three cups of coffee. I, in my stupidity accepted the coffee from my brother in law, knowing caffeine makes me crazy. After feeling the buzz coming on I retreated to my dulcimer and had the practice session of my life. I learned four or five tunes to speed. Won't do it again though. It takes a lot out of me. I'll just do it the slow way from now on.
Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Help, I'm caught up in a practicing frenzy!!!!
Have you ever gotten so wound up, trying to achieve a goal -- maybe a 'great leap forward' on your instrument, that after a while you start to feel like you stuck your thumb in an electric outlet????
I think it gets counterproductive at a certain point, but by that time, I'm so wound up, trying to achieve this goal, it's hard to 'unplug' myself.
First I think I'm make tremendous leaps forward -- I'm so happy -- congratulating myself as in "I never thought I'd be able to play like this." BUT WAIT. There's a dangerous curve coming. I've been working on a set of four reels.
I SWITCH TUNES because I'm tired of playing the same thing. WHAT HAPPENED. This other set of tunes doesn't come off quite as easily. UH OH. I'm NO GOOD. I'll NEVER EVER be able to play the fiddle the way I want to.
I KNOW --- I know what to do. I'LL PRACTICE. I'll just go sit down with the fiddle and practice those damned cross string bowings for ten hours, until I've played them with every possible different cross-string pattern known to human beings.
OH GOD, I've got next door neighbors. They're usually so wonderfully nice. They never ever ever complain about my fiddle practicing. But I'm going to make a bet with myself that I can drive even them -- the most laid back folks in the world -- absolutely nuts. Here I go: One down three up; three down one up; one up three down, three up one down; again, again, again, ..............................................................
Wait, should this sound smoother? No wait -- should this sound more stacatto? Do I have the accent in the right place???? I better try it again. Hmmmmm...... I better do that again.........UM.........
Oh thank God, I just realized, I'm allowed to take an Ativan at this hour. That should help,
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Fid42
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
My downstairs neighbors have no idea what you're talking about, especially at 3 AM.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by leoj
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
Don't change instrument now - it's the same on any other!
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by nicholas
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
' Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing??? '. Yes. Happy to say it's a long time ago.
' I think it gets counterproductive at a certain point ' : by the time you start to realize this, you've probably gone far beyond that point already.
Good luck !
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
he he he he, your like me.
When I get like that I stop and relax, cause if your not relaxed playing the fiddle your at nothing!
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by session savage
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
When I reach a similar situation I stop practising for a week or so. When I start practising again things usually go smoother.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Ramiro
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
It takes time for new patterns to sink in.
Sometimes it might take one sleep. Sometimes you get a
breakthrough 6 weeks after an intense bout. Sometimes
if you don't play for week or so, bad habits are forgotten and you
have a little breakthrough when you come back. I guess you
should keep in mind this ITM stuff is for **fun** - at least for
most us on the yella board.
I have done this on two instruments and two "musics" and
Henk is right for sure
.When I was doing classical as a young fella it got out of
hand and it stopped being fun -- especially when I came up
against my limited talent.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Hup
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
There are days where I assemble my flute at 10am, play for 45 minutes, lay it down because I lost motivation, only to feel the sting of "getting that tune right" ten minutes later, this procedure will continue until about 9pm, so yes, I kind of know what you're talking about
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by TMB
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
We all have a love-hate relationship with our instruments from time to time. And I know all about neighbors taking an interest in your practicing- especially when I unleash my GHB late in the evening after all in the house have gone to bed...
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
That's the side of the instument Herself hates. When you get on a roll. Or the Muse arrives several hours later than you originally intended and you start a marathon practice completely out of the normal cycle of the household.
The kids force me to play next to the boiler when they come in town and I want to practice at odd hours. Sort of strange that they always kept us awake at odd hours first as babies and then as partying high schoolers!
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by zippydw
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
It has been my experience that things take time. I will work on something, and it just will not work, I sleep on it, time passes (a day, or so) and suddenly, it is a whole lot easier. I think that there is a part of the learning process that is associated with sleep. (Not that I know, I make things up and it is often hard to tell the difference) I personally find that some every day (even 5 or 10 minutes) is more effective than a chunk from time to time. As I watched my kids learn to play, it occurred to me that it takes about 5 years of day to day playing to get to the point where you can do as you please with an instrument. People will quibble about the numbers, but I expect that the range is huge.
# Posted on May 24th 2008 by toumi
Re: Practicing Frenzy -- Have You Experienced This Sort of Thing???
I experienced it after three cups of coffee. I, in my stupidity accepted the coffee from my brother in law, knowing caffeine makes me crazy. After feeling the buzz coming on I retreated to my dulcimer and had the practice session of my life. I learned four or five tunes to speed. Won't do it again though. It takes a lot out of me. I'll just do it the slow way from now on.
# Posted on May 27th 2008 by jrathbun