How to Practise Better Options

[schraeubchen]

The gender problem that spells trouble with abdominals every four weeks is an occupational hazard unfortunately and there is nothing for it but to work through it as much as possible so the abdominals are strong enough to cope most of the time.

When it becomes a complete disaster is when it is coupled with menorrhagia and possibly anaemia leaving the poor woman washed out too.

The only solution hot water bottles and analgesics and keep going. In the intervening weeks strengthen the core abdominal muscles.

Thank you for replying on this. It's good to know, that I am not the only woman in the world having this problems.
In my case it seems to be part of the PMS. I hope the exercises to strengthen my abdominals will one day solve this problem. Until then I just take it as it is and concentrate on other things then tone devolpement during the two days.
The effect is, that my tone is extremly harsh during these days.
Today I tried a different strategy. I cleaned up bathroom and citchen before practicing to get some physical treatment. It was a bit better than yesterday, but not good.


Since thursday last week I am in the process of picking the pieces for my grade 7 exam. So a lot of new pieces to work through.
Today I worked through "The song of the wind" from Donjon.
(I will write the names of the notes as I am used to it, for me middle C is c', the next octave is c'', maybe once I will find out the english way of naming the notes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) )
The key signature of the piece is a flat. I found out, that I tend to forget that this leads to a flat instead of a and d flat instead of d. So I helped myself by adding the flats into the score with pencil. I indeed have to work on this problem by practicing the scales and arpeggios on a flat. But as a first aid it was good to take this way.
The next problem is many parts where it goes like d' - c'' - e' flat - c'' - e' - c'' - f' - c'' - e' - c'' in semiquavers followed by e' flat quaver.
The first time I got mixed up with these parts and there was to much accent on the c''.
I then played through the piece leaving out the repetitive notes to make sure I look more on the chromatic scales. After that I repeated the piece and to me it seemed that it was much better.

And I practiced flageolet for solving the problem with the third octave. It was already better than yesterday.

[corenfa]

First time in days that I'm able to practise. First casualty: Fingering. I've been faking it through the left hand of the Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No 3. By "faking" I don't mean not following the fingering in the book, I mean just using whatever necessary to hit anything in the vicinity of the notes on the page, not even consistent from time to time. The section that's causing me pain is the B section (in terms of A-B-A musical form).

I've discovered that I'm good at crashing my way through things, which is great if I have to play something in a pinch. It's not so great when I've supposedly been learning this for the last two years (learning on my own - I don't have a teacher). I know that a few months ago I patiently worked out the notes and fingerings, but that's fallen by the wayside. Time to get back on the wagon.

I'm also experiencing an attack of slippery fingers. I'll have to think about this more - the last time I had this, it was because of finger weakness, but that doesn't seem to be the cause this time.

Dynamics could be better. I've got a nice range of... mp to mf.

However, I know that when I was a student, i'd have been horribly discouraged by thinking about all of this - or by my teacher pointing it all out at once. Now, it just makes me feel like I know what I have to do, so I can go and do it.

...

- I still fear the f (no kidding)
...

I used to be a horn player - I remember this fear of high notes. One trick that helped me a lot was to really dig in with my feet- press the whole of both feet into the floor (and press down with my backside if I was playing seated). That gave me a very firm base to "rest" the abdominals on.

I still do this if I have to blow up balloons!

[schraeubchen]

First time in days that I'm able to practise. First casualty: Fingering. I've been faking it through the left hand of the Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No 3. By "faking" I don't mean not following the fingering in the book, I mean just using whatever necessary to hit anything in the vicinity of the notes on the page, not even consistent from time to time. The section that's causing me pain is the B section (in terms of A-B-A musical form).

I've discovered that I'm good at crashing my way through things, which is great if I have to play something in a pinch. It's not so great when I've supposedly been learning this for the last two years (learning on my own - I don't have a teacher). I know that a few months ago I patiently worked out the notes and fingerings, but that's fallen by the wayside. Time to get back on the wagon.

I'm also experiencing an attack of slippery fingers. I'll have to think about this more - the last time I had this, it was because of finger weakness, but that doesn't seem to be the cause this time.

Dynamics could be better. I've got a nice range of... mp to mf.

However, I know that when I was a student, i'd have been horribly discouraged by thinking about all of this - or by my teacher pointing it all out at once. Now, it just makes me feel like I know what I have to do, so I can go and do it.

Good to hear, that you made it back to practicing.

...

- I still fear the f (no kidding)
...

I used to be a horn player - I remember this fear of high notes. One trick that helped me a lot was to really dig in with my feet- press the whole of both feet into the floor (and press down with my backside if I was playing seated). That gave me a very firm base to "rest" the abdominals on.

I still do this if I have to blow up balloons!

I thought about this thing of imagining pushing something down if you have to play high notes. I imagined it and watched my abdominals while doing it. What I found out was, that doing this activates exactly the part of my abdominals I was told to use for the high notes.
Right now I am on a level below that. I first have to get the feeling for the different sections of my abdominals and as far as I know myself. Imagining something with it would disturb my concentration on my body. But I will keep this in mind to practice without the flute. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[corenfa]

...
I thought about this thing of imagining pushing something down if you have to play high notes. I imagined it and watched my abdominals while doing it. What I found out was, that doing this activates exactly the part of my abdominals I was told to use for the high notes.
Right now I am on a level below that. I first have to get the feeling for the different sections of my abdominals and as far as I know myself. Imagining something with it would disturb my concentration on my body. But I will keep this in mind to practice without the flute. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My horn teacher was also a yoga teacher, and she used a lot of yoga ideas in our lessons. Not every student took to this style, but it worked for me. I reckon that any sort of bodywork (yoga, pilates, Alexander technique, ...) would help with body-awareness, and any sort of body-awareness will help with instrument playing of any instrument.

[schraeubchen]

...
I thought about this thing of imagining pushing something down if you have to play high notes. I imagined it and watched my abdominals while doing it. What I found out was, that doing this activates exactly the part of my abdominals I was told to use for the high notes.
Right now I am on a level below that. I first have to get the feeling for the different sections of my abdominals and as far as I know myself. Imagining something with it would disturb my concentration on my body. But I will keep this in mind to practice without the flute. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My horn teacher was also a yoga teacher, and she used a lot of yoga ideas in our lessons. Not every student took to this style, but it worked for me. I reckon that any sort of bodywork (yoga, pilates, Alexander technique, ...) would help with body-awareness, and any sort of body-awareness will help with instrument playing of any instrument.

My exercise right now might come from yoga. It definitly will strenghthen my abdominals. And I try to get more body-awareness.

[jod]

Menses can really disrupt practise schedules for women, but the one area where men are unfortunately correct is if we are to taken seriously is that unless there is an additional problem on top of the regular monthly "curse" then we forfeit our right to be taken too seriously.

However there are times to act. Excessive pain or blood loss both need to be investigated.

Problematic mood swings/ PMS symptoms are worthwhile getting investigated.

There are things that can be done in terms of yoga/pilates type exercises that can help strengthen abdominal muscles and allow people to work through that time, but only when there are no underlying problems.

If despite strengthening core abdominals you still have problems, then go and speak to a GP in the first place.

[corenfa]

Tonight I was just too tired to keep up any sort of mindful practice for more than fifteen minutes due to hammering my brain at work. So I just bashed away for fun for the rest of the session. However, I've noticed that the hour or so I spent yesterday has paid massive dividends. I was good and did manage to stay very mindful yesterday so I don't feel guilty.

That's another thing I've had to ditch, the practice guilt! I'm glad I did. Sometimes I just want to play for fun, and I think of the mindful practising as storing up to improve my ability so that when I play for fun, I have more fun than if I didn't.

Err, I *think* that makes some sort of sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[katica]

Tonight I was just too tired to keep up any sort of mindful practice for more than fifteen minutes due to hammering my brain at work. So I just bashed away for fun for the rest of the session. However, I've noticed that the hour or so I spent yesterday has paid massive dividends. I was good and did manage to stay very mindful yesterday so I don't feel guilty.

That's another thing I've had to ditch, the practice guilt! I'm glad I did. Sometimes I just want to play for fun, and I think of the mindful practising as storing up to improve my ability so that when I play for fun, I have more fun than if I didn't.

Err, I *think* that makes some sort of sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Loads of sense!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[schraeubchen]

Menses can really disrupt practise schedules for women, but the one area where men are unfortunately correct is if we are to taken seriously is that unless there is an additional problem on top of the regular monthly "curse" then we forfeit our right to be taken too seriously.

However there are times to act. Excessive pain or blood loss both need to be investigated.

Problematic mood swings/ PMS symptoms are worthwhile getting investigated.

There are things that can be done in terms of yoga/pilates type exercises that can help strengthen abdominal muscles and allow people to work through that time, but only when there are no underlying problems.

If despite strengthening core abdominals you still have problems, then go and speak to a GP in the first place.

Thanks for that. I will keep it in mind. Took a day off practicing yesterday and today I may better not do my exercises for abdominals.

Tonight I was just too tired to keep up any sort of mindful practice for more than fifteen minutes due to hammering my brain at work. So I just bashed away for fun for the rest of the session. However, I've noticed that the hour or so I spent yesterday has paid massive dividends. I was good and did manage to stay very mindful yesterday so I don't feel guilty.

That's another thing I've had to ditch, the practice guilt! I'm glad I did. Sometimes I just want to play for fun, and I think of the mindful practising as storing up to improve my ability so that when I play for fun, I have more fun than if I didn't.

Err, I *think* that makes some sort of sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

It does make sense to me.

[corenfa]

Today, no big improvements. Small ones - the sort that one could barely hear, but that I can feel. No matter. If I play something 5, 10, 20 times now, i can have the faith that one day it *will* pay off. I know it's ironic that I can only feel this way because there is no pressure - no need for exams or qualifications. If I was a professional musician I think I might find it much more difficult.

Anyway, it's unrealistic to expect big jumps in improvement every day. I used to set myself up for disappointment by expecting too much.

schraeubchen, I was also thinking about what you said about the fear of the high notes - I have a similar problem with piano which is fear of the octaves. I realised today that I was tensing up involuntarily for the running octave passages in the Chopin that I am learning. It is because I expect it to be difficult, therefore I expect to have to make a great effort to play it. I think the right way for me to think about it is "yes it's difficult and that's why i can't do it *yet* but I will learn how". As an adult learner I think that I have forgotten how it was when I first took lessons as a child. I take it for granted because I learnt as a child that I should be expected to know how to do most things, and when I can't, it means that I am incapable forever rather than I just haven't learnt how.

[Tassimo]

Today, no big improvements. Small ones - the sort that one could barely hear, but that I can feel. No matter. If I play something 5, 10, 20 times now, i can have the faith that one day it *will* pay off.

I think this is quite a breakthrough and I know exactly what you mean about no hearing but feeling that there is a difference.

Good report (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Roseau]

schraeubchen, I was also thinking about what you said about the fear of the high notes - I have a similar problem with piano which is fear of the octaves. I realised today that I was tensing up involuntarily for the running octave passages in the Chopin that I am learning. It is because I expect it to be difficult, therefore I expect to have to make a great effort to play it. I think the right way for me to think about it is "yes it's difficult and that's why i can't do it *yet* but I will learn how".

My teacher has said something rather similar to me. He says he can see when I come to a passage I find difficult because my whole body tenses up and that it is a vicious circle since this tension will always prevent me from playing whatever it is successfully whereas what I should be doing is not saying to myself "I can't do this" but "this is difficult, no-one expects me to play it perfectly straight away, how can I learn how to play it."

[schraeubchen]

Today, no big improvements. Small ones - the sort that one could barely hear, but that I can feel. No matter. If I play something 5, 10, 20 times now, i can have the faith that one day it *will* pay off. I know it's ironic that I can only feel this way because there is no pressure - no need for exams or qualifications. If I was a professional musician I think I might find it much more difficult.

Anyway, it's unrealistic to expect big jumps in improvement every day. I used to set myself up for disappointment by expecting too much.

schraeubchen, I was also thinking about what you said about the fear of the high notes - I have a similar problem with piano which is fear of the octaves. I realised today that I was tensing up involuntarily for the running octave passages in the Chopin that I am learning. It is because I expect it to be difficult, therefore I expect to have to make a great effort to play it. I think the right way for me to think about it is "yes it's difficult and that's why i can't do it *yet* but I will learn how". As an adult learner I think that I have forgotten how it was when I first took lessons as a child. I take it for granted because I learnt as a child that I should be expected to know how to do most things, and when I can't, it means that I am incapable forever rather than I just haven't learnt how.

I think, it is a big improvement to get the feeling that one day it will work. It's an improvement of confidence. In a special way it might be more important than improvement of playing because it will cause a lot of improvement in playing on the long run.

And I like your description of what happens if you fear something. The problem that still is left is, how one can avoid this fear. I think one way is to keep practicing the things you fear. In my special case it's practicing high notes, try to open my mouth (not my lips) as much as possible whilst playing high notes and keep special attention on the support from my abdominals.


During my practice session today I faced especially the big jumps. I found out, it is a good way to be prepared in the way of knowing what to do to get it done in a smooth way.

[dorfmouse]

Today, no big improvements. Small ones - the sort that one could barely hear, but that I can feel. No matter. If I play something 5, 10, 20 times now, i can have the faith that one day it *will* pay off. I know it's ironic that I can only feel this way because there is no pressure - no need for exams or qualifications. If I was a professional musician I think I might find it much more difficult.

Anyway, it's unrealistic to expect big jumps in improvement every day. I used to set myself up for disappointment by expecting too much.

schraeubchen, I was also thinking about what you said about the fear of the high notes - I have a similar problem with piano which is fear of the octaves. I realised today that I was tensing up involuntarily for the running octave passages in the Chopin that I am learning. It is because I expect it to be difficult, therefore I expect to have to make a great effort to play it. I think the right way for me to think about it is "yes it's difficult and that's why i can't do it *yet* but I will learn how". As an adult learner I think that I have forgotten how it was when I first took lessons as a child. I take it for granted because I learnt as a child that I should be expected to know how to do most things, and when I can't, it means that I am incapable forever rather than I just haven't learnt how.

I think, it is a big improvement to get the feeling that one day it will work. It's an improvement of confidence. In a special way it might be more important than improvement of playing because it will cause a lot of improvement in playing on the long run.

And I like your description of what happens if you fear something. The problem that still is left is, how one can avoid this fear. I think one way is to keep practicing the things you fear. In my special case it's practicing high notes, try to open my mouth (not my lips) as much as possible whilst playing high notes and keep special attention on the support from my abdominals.


During my practice session today I faced especially the big jumps. I found out, it is a good way to be prepared in the way of knowing what to do to get it done in a smooth way.

schraeubchen; I'm planning to work on the high register during the summer break. I don't "fear" the highest notes but know they're too sharp and want to improve intonation. Do you know Jen Cluff's site? She has lots of ideas and you might find something that helps in this;
http://www.jennifercluff.com/tone.htm#highregister
Good luck!

[schraeubchen]

schraeubchen; I'm planning to work on the high register during the summer break. I don't "fear" the highest notes but know they're too sharp and want to improve intonation. Do you know Jen Cluff's site? She has lots of ideas and you might find something that helps in this;
http://www.jennifercluff.com/tone.htm#highregister
Good luck!

Hi dorfmouse,
thanks a lot for the link.
It seems that my mentining the fear of the high notes gets to get his own life in this thread. I know all the technical stuff about how to play them. It's just a kind of blockade that causes too much tension in my body to play them as smooth as I want them to be. And the basic problem might be not to support them as much, as I should do. Thatfor I work on my abdominals to get them stronger and beside that I have a lot of exercises to practice them in different ways.
The Taffanel/Gaubert no 10 helps a lot to get a feeling for the support of every single note. And beside that it helps a lot to play flageolets. I practiced this again today and it improves. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yay.gif)
I know, that on the long run I will be able to play them like I want to. But I am only playing again for three years now, so no need to think it's to late. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)