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Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
I know this seems like a strange question, but my career has provided me with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and my family and I will be spending a year in Japan. As such, my one-to-two hours per night of flute practice has been abruptly supplanted by one-to-two hours per night of Japanese language studies.
Furthermore, while I am on this assignment, I suspect the workload, and my desire for me and my family to make the most of this experience-of-a-lifetime, will be such that Irish music may be among the furthest things from my mind.
Has anyone else had a similar experience, where change-of-life circumstances kept them away from their music for an extended period of time? Is there a way to do this other than cold-turkey? Is it like being a complete beginner all over again, when you resume playing?
I'll gladly appreciate any advice you may have to offer.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Do you really need to practice for one and a half hours? Surely, you can just do a little to keep yourself "ticking over" until you are less busy. It would be a good form of relaxation, if nothing else. Then, when you have a chance to join a session or play, you won't be rusty. Of course, you might not have progressed much but you won't have gone back.
Is half an hour's practice(even every couple days) impossible? Surely, it's just a mental thing?
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Konishiwah.
Sounds drastic. But there are sessions in Japan, if that's the problem. As you said, Irish music will be the furthest thing from your mind, so you might quite quickly wean yourself off.
I took my flute all the way down South America several years ago (no sessions though), but more recently I was in Australia for a month and only brought my whistle, but I reckon I must only have picked it up once or twice. I reckon you'll be ok, but do you really want to starve yourself of your hobby?
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Wow, how VERY cool! Um. There's a quite a bit of Irish music in Japan, I'm told, at least in the major city centers, so if you don't want to give up sessioning, you probably don't have to. D'you know where you're going to be?
Well, I suppose I'll risk giving out on yet another subject, although Stefan will probably think it just proves something or other. *grin* Yes, I have had the experience, and, yes, you can do it some other way than cold-turkey. No, it wasn't like being a beginner again, although it'll take a while to get your fingers and such back when you do return to your instrument, at least in my experience.
I tried getting in a few minutes a day (like, ten minutes) for the first couple of weeks, but that didn't work very well for me. Finally, one of my teachers told me to try giving up *playing* the music, but to look on it as a god-given gift of time to *learn* more tunes. I listened to a lot of music over a couple of months, and surprise, I knew a lot of the tunes when i got back to the fiddle. I also had a firmer grasp of ornamentation and what I liked and didn't like about it, and also a much better idea of variations to try, on the other end.
Now, granted, this was only a couple of months, not a year. I don't know if that'd do it for me for a whole year, and don't want to try it to find out...so maybe I can learn from you on that one! Also, this was fairly early on when I was playing; I don't know whether the level you're playing at would make a difference.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
My experience has been that it's very difficult to make the climb back if you quit altogether. Muscle memory is just that and it diminishes fast. But it's more than having to re-build technique all over again. It's the mental anguish being faced with teh mountain yet again. I would recommend that you keep playing, even at a low level. It's good for the fingers but also for your mind and soul. I used to go to Japan on business years ago and I would take my instrument with me just so that I could play a little. Believe me - you can go to beautiful peaceful parks there, play for an hour and feel really good about yourself.
If you feel better about yourself - your family will benefit too!!
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Sugoi des-ne!!
Browndog, I had this very same experience, and thought I would have to play on my own for a year. This was like 15 years ago, so it is different in Japan now. I think there is even more music there now. I literally got a call from a friend of a friend who told me about a session two days after I arrived in Tokyo. Bring your instrument, and give up the idea of a sabbatical.
It will also provide you needed times of reflection and a refuge from learning language and dealing with new situations. I found it a great comfort, and playing music helped free my subconscious. It was a touchstone and more. Also, I did bring a bunch of tapes and CDs to pour over, as well as a few tune books to explore.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Ohaiyoo gozaimasu, konnichi wa, konban wa! (depending on what time zone you are reading this from),
Thanks for the advice so far - please do keep it coming! I hope to be able to play a few notes from time to time, as JohnJ suggests, but fear I realistically may end up just not "making" the time to play. There will surely be so much to experience there.
Zina - "Listen, listen, listen" seems to *always* be the answer to *all* our musical questions, doesn't it?
As for the few Japanese phrases you've used on me - I'll be scurrying off to my dictionary to translate. Right now my Japanese is limited to stuff like:
"Watashi no inu wa chairo." ("My dog is brown.")
As for time and place: I'll be in Isahaya - a short train ride away from Nagasaki - starting in July. I've searched thru thesesh's member profiles and didn't find anyone in that area.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Wait, where did Pol live? Is he still in Japan, or has he moved, anybody know? I can't remember! Nagasaki...that's...southeast? Pol was up in Yamagata-Ken last I heard, but that was two years back. But see if he will answer an e-mail: http://thesession.org/members/display.php/2515 . And of course slainte-san might have some contacts for you as well.
Anyway -- I'm afraid that it is indeed the answer that we always seem to get, Brian. Doesn't seem fair, does it? Listening takes so much *time*. ;) Dang.
July -- wow, you guys must be scrambling to get everything ready!
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Hey Browndog, I live in Tokyo were there are lots of sessions going on at the dozen plus pubs here. There are lots of Irish pubs all over Japan, but none in Nagasaki that I am aware of.
The closest would be Saga and Kumamoto. Check out the link below. http://www.inj.or.jp/link/pub_e.html
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
A right way to take a break is to not feel guilty about it. I'm not recommending a break, and it sounds like there are a few ITM people there to look up. Best Wishes! "A smile is an international language." (^:
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Two intense years in graduate school robbed me of my music time, but I did manage to spend about a half hour a week with my instrument. I made a point of doing some exercises every time I played, even if that's all I had time for. The recovery was easier than I expected, partly, I think, because I kept up at least some technical exercise and partly because the restraint built up a big reserve of passion for playing.
I had another forced sabbatical from a strain injury that lasted several years with a long recovery, but that's a very different kind of experience, except that there was even more build up of passion.
As I get older (I'm fifty-seven) I'm less inclined to pass up any opportunity to play. Life is too short and the ability to play can be snatched away temporarily or permanently at any time.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Danny, you mean to tell me you were in Australia recently for a whole month and you never got in touch with yer best mate Dow?! ;-D
Browndogsan nihongo ganbatte ne. If you get stuck on the grammar or anything feel free to drop me a line. If you're there for a year, you're bound to come across things that are puzzling or annoying because of the culture difference. There are plenty of people on this forum who can help you if you run into problems.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Dow - no, no, more recently means *relatively* recently, before I knew you. In fact we returned on 9th Sept 2001, ie as you will deduce, 2 days before 9/11.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
in the mid nineties I was playing for a living - and playing a lot -nearly a thousand paid gigs in five years. In 1999 I was in a road accident and I just had to walk away from playing because I was so messed up in my head. I finally started playing again last year (2004) and I'm a stronger player now than I ever was. The time off effectively deconstructed my playing for me to a point where I had to relearn a lot of stuff but this time I learnt properly with no shortcuts - I wouldn't recommend this approach to anyone but use the time to do little bits of reconstruction on your playing. I would have to say that I felt like half a person without my music. Once again I feel whole because I'm doing something that I have a passion for - so don't let it go
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Good advice to listen but that takes up a bit of time too, although you could listen on your IPOD etc while you commute. I still don't think that you have to give up completely.
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Whenever I can spend time praciticng my fingers I spend time practicing my ears. I listen to alot of irish music while I drive and play games with myself, like my trying to indentify the key signature, or sing along and see how fast I can memorize the tune etc . . .This works for me cause its kind of like practicing but you can get alot of stuff done, like cleaning, driving etc . .
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Best of luck, bd. I spent three weeks in Tokyo-Kyoto, loved it, but was glad to return home. When you feel a tune come up from nowhere in particular, It'll be time to play a tune. It'll happen, whether you plan or not. I'd play it down by the beach, as the least obtrusive place, or a river flood plain. Think playing indoors will intrude on the neighborhood? It might or might not. You could lock yourself in the bathroom, if it is too noisy there think what else you're inflicting on the neighbors! Pity the piper in Japan-not much open space.
Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
I know this seems like a strange question, but my career has provided me with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and my family and I will be spending a year in Japan. As such, my one-to-two hours per night of flute practice has been abruptly supplanted by one-to-two hours per night of Japanese language studies.
Furthermore, while I am on this assignment, I suspect the workload, and my desire for me and my family to make the most of this experience-of-a-lifetime, will be such that Irish music may be among the furthest things from my mind.
Has anyone else had a similar experience, where change-of-life circumstances kept them away from their music for an extended period of time? Is there a way to do this other than cold-turkey? Is it like being a complete beginner all over again, when you resume playing?
I'll gladly appreciate any advice you may have to offer.
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by browndog
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Oh, and...
Arigatoo gozaimasu!
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by browndog
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Do you really need to practice for one and a half hours? Surely, you can just do a little to keep yourself "ticking over" until you are less busy. It would be a good form of relaxation, if nothing else. Then, when you have a chance to join a session or play, you won't be rusty. Of course, you might not have progressed much but you won't have gone back.
Is half an hour's practice(even every couple days) impossible? Surely, it's just a mental thing?
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Konishiwah.
Sounds drastic. But there are sessions in Japan, if that's the problem. As you said, Irish music will be the furthest thing from your mind, so you might quite quickly wean yourself off.
I took my flute all the way down South America several years ago (no sessions though), but more recently I was in Australia for a month and only brought my whistle, but I reckon I must only have picked it up once or twice. I reckon you'll be ok, but do you really want to starve yourself of your hobby?
Good luck with your "sabbatical"!
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
And you can always meet up with Slainte for a tune and practise your Japanese at the same time.
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Shakuhachi
KFG
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by KFG
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Wow, how VERY cool! Um. There's a quite a bit of Irish music in Japan, I'm told, at least in the major city centers, so if you don't want to give up sessioning, you probably don't have to. D'you know where you're going to be?
Well, I suppose I'll risk giving out on yet another subject, although Stefan will probably think it just proves something or other. *grin* Yes, I have had the experience, and, yes, you can do it some other way than cold-turkey. No, it wasn't like being a beginner again, although it'll take a while to get your fingers and such back when you do return to your instrument, at least in my experience.
I tried getting in a few minutes a day (like, ten minutes) for the first couple of weeks, but that didn't work very well for me. Finally, one of my teachers told me to try giving up *playing* the music, but to look on it as a god-given gift of time to *learn* more tunes. I listened to a lot of music over a couple of months, and surprise, I knew a lot of the tunes when i got back to the fiddle. I also had a firmer grasp of ornamentation and what I liked and didn't like about it, and also a much better idea of variations to try, on the other end.
Now, granted, this was only a couple of months, not a year. I don't know if that'd do it for me for a whole year, and don't want to try it to find out...so maybe I can learn from you on that one! Also, this was fairly early on when I was playing; I don't know whether the level you're playing at would make a difference.
But how exciting for you all! When do you go?
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
That's about the state of my playing at present. I don't have much time to practice, but I can listen a fair bit.
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
"Egao wa chikyugo" (^:
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
My experience has been that it's very difficult to make the climb back if you quit altogether. Muscle memory is just that and it diminishes fast. But it's more than having to re-build technique all over again. It's the mental anguish being faced with teh mountain yet again. I would recommend that you keep playing, even at a low level. It's good for the fingers but also for your mind and soul. I used to go to Japan on business years ago and I would take my instrument with me just so that I could play a little. Believe me - you can go to beautiful peaceful parks there, play for an hour and feel really good about yourself.
If you feel better about yourself - your family will benefit too!!
Avi
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by improziv
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Sugoi des-ne!!
Browndog, I had this very same experience, and thought I would have to play on my own for a year. This was like 15 years ago, so it is different in Japan now. I think there is even more music there now. I literally got a call from a friend of a friend who told me about a session two days after I arrived in Tokyo. Bring your instrument, and give up the idea of a sabbatical.
It will also provide you needed times of reflection and a refuge from learning language and dealing with new situations. I found it a great comfort, and playing music helped free my subconscious. It was a touchstone and more. Also, I did bring a bunch of tapes and CDs to pour over, as well as a few tune books to explore.
Gambatte kudasai. Matta ne.
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Jode
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Ohaiyoo gozaimasu, konnichi wa, konban wa! (depending on what time zone you are reading this from),
Thanks for the advice so far - please do keep it coming! I hope to be able to play a few notes from time to time, as JohnJ suggests, but fear I realistically may end up just not "making" the time to play. There will surely be so much to experience there.
Zina - "Listen, listen, listen" seems to *always* be the answer to *all* our musical questions, doesn't it?
As for the few Japanese phrases you've used on me - I'll be scurrying off to my dictionary to translate. Right now my Japanese is limited to stuff like:
"Watashi no inu wa chairo." ("My dog is brown.")
As for time and place: I'll be in Isahaya - a short train ride away from Nagasaki - starting in July. I've searched thru thesesh's member profiles and didn't find anyone in that area.
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by browndog
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Wait, where did Pol live? Is he still in Japan, or has he moved, anybody know? I can't remember! Nagasaki...that's...southeast? Pol was up in Yamagata-Ken last I heard, but that was two years back. But see if he will answer an e-mail: http://thesession.org/members/display.php/2515 . And of course slainte-san might have some contacts for you as well.
Anyway -- I'm afraid that it is indeed the answer that we always seem to get, Brian. Doesn't seem fair, does it? Listening takes so much *time*. ;) Dang.
July -- wow, you guys must be scrambling to get everything ready!
# Posted on April 14th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Hey Browndog, I live in Tokyo were there are lots of sessions going on at the dozen plus pubs here. There are lots of Irish pubs all over Japan, but none in Nagasaki that I am aware of.
The closest would be Saga and Kumamoto. Check out the link below.
http://www.inj.or.jp/link/pub_e.html
Brad
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Ani Trec-Noc
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
A right way to take a break is to not feel guilty about it. I'm not recommending a break, and it sounds like there are a few ITM people there to look up. Best Wishes! "A smile is an international language." (^:
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Two intense years in graduate school robbed me of my music time, but I did manage to spend about a half hour a week with my instrument. I made a point of doing some exercises every time I played, even if that's all I had time for. The recovery was easier than I expected, partly, I think, because I kept up at least some technical exercise and partly because the restraint built up a big reserve of passion for playing.
I had another forced sabbatical from a strain injury that lasted several years with a long recovery, but that's a very different kind of experience, except that there was even more build up of passion.
As I get older (I'm fifty-seven) I'm less inclined to pass up any opportunity to play. Life is too short and the ability to play can be snatched away temporarily or permanently at any time.
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Danny, you mean to tell me you were in Australia recently for a whole month and you never got in touch with yer best mate Dow?! ;-D
Browndogsan nihongo ganbatte ne. If you get stuck on the grammar or anything feel free to drop me a line. If you're there for a year, you're bound to come across things that are puzzling or annoying because of the culture difference. There are plenty of people on this forum who can help you if you run into problems.
Good luck!
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Dow
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Dow - no, no, more recently means *relatively* recently, before I knew you. In fact we returned on 9th Sept 2001, ie as you will deduce, 2 days before 9/11.
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
in the mid nineties I was playing for a living - and playing a lot -nearly a thousand paid gigs in five years. In 1999 I was in a road accident and I just had to walk away from playing because I was so messed up in my head. I finally started playing again last year (2004) and I'm a stronger player now than I ever was. The time off effectively deconstructed my playing for me to a point where I had to relearn a lot of stuff but this time I learnt properly with no shortcuts - I wouldn't recommend this approach to anyone but use the time to do little bits of reconstruction on your playing. I would have to say that I felt like half a person without my music. Once again I feel whole because I'm doing something that I have a passion for - so don't let it go
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Kelpie
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Good advice to listen but that takes up a bit of time too, although you could listen on your IPOD etc while you commute. I still don't think that you have to give up completely.
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Why not go to a session once a week/fortnight to keep your hand in?
http://www.avalon-intl.co.jp/shannons-irishpub/
http://www.comhaltas-jp.com/index.php
http://www.kyotozine.com/hatao/bira_session/promo_session.htm
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by breandan
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Whenever I can spend time praciticng my fingers I spend time practicing my ears. I listen to alot of irish music while I drive and play games with myself, like my trying to indentify the key signature, or sing along and see how fast I can memorize the tune etc . . .This works for me cause its kind of like practicing but you can get alot of stuff done, like cleaning, driving etc . .
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by banana512
Re: Strange question: Is there a "right way" to take a break from the music?
Best of luck, bd. I spent three weeks in Tokyo-Kyoto, loved it, but was glad to return home. When you feel a tune come up from nowhere in particular, It'll be time to play a tune. It'll happen, whether you plan or not. I'd play it down by the beach, as the least obtrusive place, or a river flood plain. Think playing indoors will intrude on the neighborhood? It might or might not. You could lock yourself in the bathroom, if it is too noisy there think what else you're inflicting on the neighbors! Pity the piper in Japan-not much open space.
# Posted on April 15th 2005 by rainog