hey everybody,
haven't posted on here for ages so thought i'd just put down a rant. i'm just goin through a period where my playing feels really mediocre and stilted. think it might have something to do with the fact to do with the fact that i don't get to play as often as i would like at uni but i'm still playing an awful lot. never mind. anybody who wants to reassure me that its just a phase and that everybody gets it now and again, feel free, because its really aggravating me.
Nick
I don't know about everyone, but I certainly do, and even though I've know how to blow a flute for about 40 years now there are days when I pick it up and can't seem to get anything out of it other the sound of the wind blowing between my ears. What's wit dat?
"Touch and feel" instruments like fiddle, flute and reeds are highly dependent upon the state of the human nervous system to even sound a note, and the human nervous system is a notoriously touchy little thing that can be thrown off by just about anything (like, its being Tuesday), and then there's the feel of the music to deal with on top of that.
It's just a phase that if you don't fret too much, no matter how annoying it is, you'll not only come out the other side of, but may well come out the other side as a better fiddle player. Sometimes the phase is just a sign that your nervous system is so busy internalizing that it doesn't have the time and attention to actually play very well at the moment. The learning mechanism is part of the nervous system, and did I mention that the nervous system is a notoriously touching little thing?
Relax. Ride it out. This too shall pass. It'll pass faster if you don't watch it to closely. It gets nervous when you watch it.
Im sure it does happen to most people. Have discussed this before and noticed personally, sometimes you might go through a crap phase but once its past it seems that you often do end up playing better than what you did before it.
I practise alot but i think sometimes its good to have a rest of a day or so here and there then start afresh after that and and see if it passes.
Sure it will anyway
A lot of times, annoying things about our own playing have to build up for a while before we're really ready to do anything about them. There come times where our continually improving expectations for our playing outstrip our ability significantly. At those times, stress is greatest. Soon, you'll find the things you need to fix (consciously or possibly unconsciously, as KFG pointed out) and you'll be happier, for a while. I didn't really understand this process until I became a teacher - I simply assumed I was periodically insane.
All good points from you guys....I go through this from time to time, and I usually find playing something a little bit different than normal, helps...or even laying it down for a few days. Happens to everyone. Don't worry about it. There's no need to.
Funny this should come up- I picked up my fiddle today and didn't feel like I was going anywhere- tunes weren't sinking in and my playing wasn't as good, but looking at the feedback here, from people who seem to have been round the block and come out the other side, I know its only a *phase*(hopefully). cheers.
I think it is the stress that goes into good ITM played as near perfection as humanly possible that eventually taps us all out at some time. This comes from sincerity about your music. I suppose that's a good recommendation. I have seen others successfully take short breaks from ITM for typical stress management activities. Hang in there. Best Wishes.
buiochas guys,
just gonna leave the fiddle until the session tomorrow night and chill out. got loads of work to do for uni anyway so i can do some of that and just listen to loads of music instead. all good advice. very apt tune by the way will.
Nick.
fiddlers block
fiddlers block
hey everybody,
haven't posted on here for ages so thought i'd just put down a rant. i'm just goin through a period where my playing feels really mediocre and stilted. think it might have something to do with the fact to do with the fact that i don't get to play as often as i would like at uni but i'm still playing an awful lot. never mind. anybody who wants to reassure me that its just a phase and that everybody gets it now and again, feel free, because its really aggravating me.
Nick
# Posted on February 26th 2005 by NickPhelan
Re: fiddlers block
I don't know about everyone, but I certainly do, and even though I've know how to blow a flute for about 40 years now there are days when I pick it up and can't seem to get anything out of it other the sound of the wind blowing between my ears. What's wit dat?
"Touch and feel" instruments like fiddle, flute and reeds are highly dependent upon the state of the human nervous system to even sound a note, and the human nervous system is a notoriously touchy little thing that can be thrown off by just about anything (like, its being Tuesday), and then there's the feel of the music to deal with on top of that.
It's just a phase that if you don't fret too much, no matter how annoying it is, you'll not only come out the other side of, but may well come out the other side as a better fiddle player. Sometimes the phase is just a sign that your nervous system is so busy internalizing that it doesn't have the time and attention to actually play very well at the moment. The learning mechanism is part of the nervous system, and did I mention that the nervous system is a notoriously touching little thing?
Relax. Ride it out. This too shall pass. It'll pass faster if you don't watch it to closely. It gets nervous when you watch it.
KFG
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by KFG
Re: fiddlers block
Im sure it does happen to most people. Have discussed this before and noticed personally, sometimes you might go through a crap phase but once its past it seems that you often do end up playing better than what you did before it.
I practise alot but i think sometimes its good to have a rest of a day or so here and there then start afresh after that and and see if it passes.
Sure it will anyway
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by mikesuth
Re: fiddlers block
Yes, it levels out for a while, which is frustrating, then you shoot upwards, then level out again
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by Cath
Re: fiddlers block
Learn this tune and see if it doesn't help ease the pain of the plateau you're on: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/297
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: fiddlers block
Good news: you're about to get better!
A lot of times, annoying things about our own playing have to build up for a while before we're really ready to do anything about them. There come times where our continually improving expectations for our playing outstrip our ability significantly. At those times, stress is greatest. Soon, you'll find the things you need to fix (consciously or possibly unconsciously, as KFG pointed out) and you'll be happier, for a while. I didn't really understand this process until I became a teacher - I simply assumed I was periodically insane.
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by reenactor
Re: fiddlers block
All good points from you guys....I go through this from time to time, and I usually find playing something a little bit different than normal, helps...or even laying it down for a few days. Happens to everyone. Don't worry about it. There's no need to.
Jim
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by Worldfiddler
Re: fiddlers block
Funny this should come up- I picked up my fiddle today and didn't feel like I was going anywhere- tunes weren't sinking in and my playing wasn't as good, but looking at the feedback here, from people who seem to have been round the block and come out the other side, I know its only a *phase*(hopefully). cheers.
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by aaron b
Re: fiddlers block
the lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne. --Chaucer
KFG
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by KFG
Re: fiddlers block
I think it is the stress that goes into good ITM played as near perfection as humanly possible that eventually taps us all out at some time. This comes from sincerity about your music. I suppose that's a good recommendation. I have seen others successfully take short breaks from ITM for typical stress management activities. Hang in there. Best Wishes.
# Posted on February 27th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: fiddlers block
buiochas guys,
just gonna leave the fiddle until the session tomorrow night and chill out. got loads of work to do for uni anyway so i can do some of that and just listen to loads of music instead. all good advice. very apt tune by the way will.
Nick.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by NickPhelan
Re: fiddlers block
Good on you, Nick. Sometimes a rest (after weeks of heavy woodshedding) is exactly what allows the improvements to manifest themselves.
I don't want to blow my own horn, but Kerri's Drab Plateau inspired another tune, The Dreary Plains of Toil: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/300
Just so you know that plenty of us have suffered through the doldrums and self-doubt.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Will CPT