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> Are You Ever Surprised By Your Fingers?
cellocase
post Apr 4 2008, 02:28 PM
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Couldn't think of a better way of putting that title...

Today, when playing (cello), I found myself watching my fingers in a very detached and surprised way, as if they belonged to someone else. This happens every now and again, when I know a piece well, and it's bizarre - I'm always slightly impressed by what my fingers are doing automatically.

Do other people get this feeling?

My main trouble is that very occasionally I stop playing or lose the thread because I think someone else is playing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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Scurra
post Apr 4 2008, 03:14 PM
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I know the feeling!
You get into a kind of daze when you're playing music you know well or off by heart - I find myself thinking about other things, and becoming detached from my fingers - as it were. I also appear to have a vacant expression to match!

Saw a video of myself playing with a quartet and was surprised at how confident my fingers looked too.
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ffliwt
post Apr 4 2008, 03:17 PM
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I do that sometimes, i usually play from memory so i'm automatically pressing down all these notes without a 2nd thought and not having to think about it - it's like i'm not controlling them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) And then i start thinking about it and realise i'm not actually aware of what note im playing at what time i'm just doing it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Also, the same as Scurra, i start to think about other things too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Or sometimes i'll be surprised in the sense that, well, rather than gradually making progress on my instruments, i tend to go about 3 weeks without seeming to improve then one day i'll pick up my violin and sound MUCH better than i used to, then i'll stay at that level for a few weeks until i have another eureka moment/just literally seem to wake up better. And i'll be really surprised like 'i couldnt play that atal yesterday and despite not really working on that bit it now seems completely easy' or that my tone has suddenly improved a lot or something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Weird!
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Morgan's Munchkin
post Apr 4 2008, 03:17 PM
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Yep!! The other week I was playing Flight of the Bumble Bee, and normally my fingers struggle to keep up, but suddenly they just kinda took off and did it without me having to do anything. I was impressed.
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Dulciana
post Apr 4 2008, 03:52 PM
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I know that feeling too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) My fingers do a much better job when I just listen to them. Once I start to concentrate on the fact that they are my fingers and it's actually me that's in control of them I sometimes stop being in control of them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
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nicki_flute
post Apr 4 2008, 04:11 PM
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Yes, or I remember times in a performance when I think "oh my gosh, I don't know what to do" but my fingers just seem to remember and I'm saved!
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Robodoc
post Apr 4 2008, 04:28 PM
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I get surprised by the palm side of my fingers sometimes. The rest of them I know like the . . . (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
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BabyBanana
post Apr 4 2008, 04:49 PM
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When I don't concertrate (often in lessons and at home) I seem to be improving and my hands just does it own thing, however as soon as I start concertrating on notes, and fingerings. I can't play it. It just won't registier beacues my brain wants my fingers to do it own thing rather than being taught how to do it..

It's just comes from when I was younger in piano my brain wouldn't let anyone make any changes to how I was moving my fingerings etc.
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Clariano
post Apr 4 2008, 05:12 PM
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Yes I do, and it always happens in concerts for some reason (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)!!! It always amazed me at how they just continue to play without me having to think about the music very much, or they will play the notes and I will concentrate on expression if you know what I'm trying to say (this sounds so strange, like talking about two people (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)). I seem to play a lot more confidently when that happens for some reason... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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chocolatedog
post Apr 4 2008, 06:57 PM
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Yes, I wake up in the morning, look at my hands and go AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!! What are those funny long things on the end of my arms?????? And sometimes those funny long thinnish things creep up on me when I'm not looking and give me an awful surprise.......
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ffliwt
post Apr 4 2008, 09:22 PM
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QUOTE(chocolatedog @ Apr 4 2008, 07:57 PM) *

Yes, I wake up in the morning, look at my hands and go AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!! What are those funny long things on the end of my arms?????? And sometimes those funny long thinnish things creep up on me when I'm not looking and give me an awful surprise.......



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
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groovyang
post Apr 4 2008, 09:52 PM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
QUOTE(ffliwt @ Apr 4 2008, 04:17 PM) *

one day i'll pick up my violin and sound MUCH better than i used to, then i'll stay at that level for a few weeks until i have another eureka moment/just literally seem to wake up better.




(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I love it when I get eureka moments!! Especially when I have been working an a really difficult section in something. I quite often have to detach myself from one hand while it does its bit so I can concentrate on the work in the other (particularly in 4 part fugues!!) Its actually quite a weird feeling when it all goes to plan without conscious thought!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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joolsters
post Apr 4 2008, 10:54 PM
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Now why doesn't lips go into auto-pilot mode (Brass players)? Grrr....
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Dulciana
post Apr 4 2008, 11:32 PM
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QUOTE(joolsters @ Apr 4 2008, 11:54 PM) *

Now why doesn't lips go into auto-pilot mode (Brass players)? Grrr....

Or my voice? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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i_love_stripey_things
post Apr 5 2008, 05:00 PM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif) yes, sometimes I can do profeesional vibrato

I can do it, but I'm still trying to perfect my wrist movement!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bob.gif) bob? I just HAD to use this emoticon!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)
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