It seems to me that whenever I am wrested away from my instruments, which takes a crowbar, and leave for a while (a weekend or a week or something like that), when I get back to them, my playing has really improved. Have you ever experienced this, or have an explanation for the phenomenon?
I'll find out in a week or so. I haven't played for over a week now because of a horrendous head cold, and I'm off to Belgium tomorrow for a few days - without fiddle.
I've had the distinct feeling for many years that my technique is better (banjo & fiddle) after a short break of a few days, but I go rusty on the actual flow of the tunes if I let them slide.
I think the improvement is due to relaxation, maybe partly psychological, but also definitely physically in the arms and fingers. Shoulders too! (Maybe especially shoulders)
...and there's something a bit like the joy of first discovery of a tune but at the same time actually being able to play it. It's the best of both worlds.
I suspect that it's more of a case of *recognizing* the improvement that's happening all the time. Like bad French painting, you can;t always appreciate it until you step back for a bit.
It's not something that I can rely on, that is, I can't say, 'OK, I'll break for six days and then come back and see how it is...' and then it's a new perspective.
And when the breaks are unplanned (like that head cold, hope you feel better quickly, Trevor) they don't always result in a boost when I come back.
Having qualified myself into the ground, yes. I've had to put the instruments aside some times and come back with a whole new energy, new insights, better hands than before.
I don't know if it's really -better-, it feels better to me. I have no idea if it's better to my playing pals. or not.
On the other hand, when Culchie TJ and I haven't played in a while, we usually take right off like a house afire, no matter what...
It seems that when I put the music down for a while for whatever reason, then I'll pick it up again with a renewed interest and usually come up with some fresh ideas in the meantime. You can't let it get to be routine, or it goes stale and boring. Treat it like your favorite pub.. get to know it and enjoy its charm as often as it strikes your fancy, but don't wear out your welcome.
If I let it sit too long though, then my memory suffers a bit... gotta keep the fingers wet..
I don't take breaks from music, but sometimes when I am working on a tune, or a technique, and running into a wall, I will walk away for a few weeks, and return with fresh enthusiasm, and find that some of the difficulties have diminished. Sometimes it is easier to walk around a brick wall than throw yourself against it.
This certainly happens with me it's not that I stop playing, but I stop playing a certain tune and when I return there is a noticeable improvement. I think some mechanism (probably in sleep) "tidies up" motor programs.
Fraid not. As a full time musician, that's one luxury I just can't afford! Not sure I'd wish to leave it alone for more than a day anyway. It's in da bloooood Man!
Sometimes you can get the same "walking away" effect by trying a tune in a different key from the one you usually play it, say one tone up or down rather than anything too wild like a 5th different.
Yes, I think there's a "latency period" involved where you are learning something - a tune, technique, whatever - and you can play it decently, but if you walk away for a while (don't quit playing necessarily, just play different things for a bit) and then come back to it, you do better. I think the subconscious is working on improving you even when you aren't, and that's how you get better.
If you are talking about playing block, getting stale or a musical mental wedgie, then yes. Breaks do help, but there is a variety of breaks. Sometimes I take a break from Irish Traditional Music and switch to American or Scottish Traditional Music. Sometimes, I just have to put up the instruments for a while and just go for a hot tub and Shiatsu Massage. If they had waterproof instruments, I would try playing in a hot tub as an experiment.
Do breaks make you play better?
Do breaks make you play better?
It seems to me that whenever I am wrested away from my instruments, which takes a crowbar, and leave for a while (a weekend or a week or something like that), when I get back to them, my playing has really improved. Have you ever experienced this, or have an explanation for the phenomenon?
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
That's the mysterious Unconscious at work...
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Cammy
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Yes, works for me too
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Cath
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
I'll find out in a week or so. I haven't played for over a week now because of a horrendous head cold, and I'm off to Belgium tomorrow for a few days - without fiddle.
Trevor
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
I've had the distinct feeling for many years that my technique is better (banjo & fiddle) after a short break of a few days, but I go rusty on the actual flow of the tunes if I let them slide.
I think the improvement is due to relaxation, maybe partly psychological, but also definitely physically in the arms and fingers. Shoulders too! (Maybe especially shoulders)
Phil
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by philgregg
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
...and there's something a bit like the joy of first discovery of a tune but at the same time actually being able to play it. It's the best of both worlds.
# Posted on October 20th 2005 by Mark Harmer
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
I suspect that it's more of a case of *recognizing* the improvement that's happening all the time. Like bad French painting, you can;t always appreciate it until you step back for a bit.
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by wormdiet
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
I find it stops me making the same old mistakes and gives me a chance to make new ones
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by Donough
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
They seem to if I've listened to a lot of music during the break.
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by cathrynb
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Yes... sometimes...
It's not something that I can rely on, that is, I can't say, 'OK, I'll break for six days and then come back and see how it is...' and then it's a new perspective.
And when the breaks are unplanned (like that head cold, hope you feel better quickly, Trevor) they don't always result in a boost when I come back.
Having qualified myself into the ground, yes. I've had to put the instruments aside some times and come back with a whole new energy, new insights, better hands than before.
I don't know if it's really -better-, it feels better to me. I have no idea if it's better to my playing pals. or not.
On the other hand, when Culchie TJ and I haven't played in a while, we usually take right off like a house afire, no matter what...
Go figure...
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by stv culchie
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
It seems that when I put the music down for a while for whatever reason, then I'll pick it up again with a renewed interest and usually come up with some fresh ideas in the meantime. You can't let it get to be routine, or it goes stale and boring. Treat it like your favorite pub.. get to know it and enjoy its charm as often as it strikes your fancy, but don't wear out your welcome.
If I let it sit too long though, then my memory suffers a bit... gotta keep the fingers wet..
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by gravelwalks
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Why have a break from playing altogether?
Play another instrument or try and learn a new instrument for a spell.
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
I don't take breaks from music, but sometimes when I am working on a tune, or a technique, and running into a wall, I will walk away for a few weeks, and return with fresh enthusiasm, and find that some of the difficulties have diminished. Sometimes it is easier to walk around a brick wall than throw yourself against it.
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
This certainly happens with me it's not that I stop playing, but I stop playing a certain tune and when I return there is a noticeable improvement. I think some mechanism (probably in sleep) "tidies up" motor programs.
TTFN
PP
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by Pied Piper
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
im off to a folksouthwestsummer school just with my fiddle. I'll see if my pipings imporved (if it works for pipers)!
Sam
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by flamin fiddler
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Fraid not. As a full time musician, that's one luxury I just can't afford! Not sure I'd wish to leave it alone for more than a day anyway. It's in da bloooood Man!
# Posted on October 21st 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Sometimes you can get the same "walking away" effect by trying a tune in a different key from the one you usually play it, say one tone up or down rather than anything too wild like a 5th different.
# Posted on October 22nd 2005 by Mark Harmer
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
Yes, I think there's a "latency period" involved where you are learning something - a tune, technique, whatever - and you can play it decently, but if you walk away for a while (don't quit playing necessarily, just play different things for a bit) and then come back to it, you do better. I think the subconscious is working on improving you even when you aren't, and that's how you get better.
# Posted on October 22nd 2005 by sarai
Re: Do breaks make you play better?
If you are talking about playing block, getting stale or a musical mental wedgie, then yes. Breaks do help, but there is a variety of breaks. Sometimes I take a break from Irish Traditional Music and switch to American or Scottish Traditional Music. Sometimes, I just have to put up the instruments for a while and just go for a hot tub and Shiatsu Massage. If they had waterproof instruments, I would try playing in a hot tub as an experiment.
# Posted on October 23rd 2005 by CeolCairdeas