How to Practise Better Options

[schraeubchen]

One practise slip-up that always happens to me is practising technical things at the expense of musical things. I always think that my technique is weak and that the musical stuff will just "come naturally". Because I never was taught any technique when I learnt as a child, i feel as though I have a lot of catching up to do. That is probably true, but I also need to think about what I want to say musically and it's hard to do that without thinking about it. I usually never give it much thought to the bits whose notes are "easy".

My experiences are that I think a lot about I want to say musically but feel like my technique is much too weak to do so. That's my reason to practise technique to extend.

[corenfa]

...
My experiences are that I think a lot about I want to say musically but feel like my technique is much too weak to do so. That's my reason to practise technique to extend.

Yes! That is exactly why I practise, because all the "fun stuff" which I could say a lot with musically is too difficult for me at the moment.

I hope your exam went well - was it yesterday?

This week I have been trying out two new practise methods. The first is that when I have a tricky passage, to find other instances of similarly tricky passages in other pieces and practise those as well. It keeps the tedium down.

The second is mental (I mean in the sense of "pertaining to the mind", not "insane" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)). I find that something that can derail me in performances is getting distracted. Part of it is due to playing in a different environment, and part of it is because I am in a heightened state of awareness. Some of the heightened state of awareness is conscious - I try harder to "bring the music out".

It occurred to me that part of my performance practise should be to cultivate that same heightened state of awareness. It shouldn't be something that I only do when I'm on stage.

I also have been trying to intentionally let myself be distracted, then bringing my mind back to the piece. I'm pleased that I have actually managed to derail myself a few times - I am conscious of the fact that I got derailed when i did, and I have managed to bring the focus back a few more times too.

[corenfa]

Just recorded myself (yay for digital pianos) and played it back (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

On the one hand, I think to myself: wow, I managed to memorise play all the notes in that, and there are even some musical ideas coming through. My first instinct is to say BUTBUTBUT (see next point), but I shall keep firmly in my mind that memorising and learning all the notes is in itself an achievement, and I ought to be pleased with that, but not complacent.

On the other hand, I am really cringing at some of the bits that i thought I could play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Nonetheless, this is interesting because it shows the discrepancy between hearing and wishful listening.

Still, in the privacy of my own home is the best time to play in a cringeworthy way. I really need to record myself a lot more. I'm not really even that hung up about listening to myself any more because recording has been so beneficial in the past.

[schraeubchen]

Hi corenfa,

sorry for not answering for such a long time. I haven't been at the computer yesterday and the day before.

Some parts of my exam went well some didn't. I would say, I played the pieces better than ever before. But the rest was more fighting with everything than music.
The examiner was again a very friendly and patient person with a lot of humour. That makes it easier.

But the most important thing was, that during my solo piece I had the idea: "You have this big room just for you to fill it with sound!"
For someone always suffering with nerves when performing in public, it is a real big present. So even if I fail, this was to make it worth it.

I played my pieces in public on Sunday (the exam was on Tuesday) and recorded it. I listened to it on Monday morning and tried to listen to it as it was someone else playing. And it sounded like music!
I am normally on the same side as you are, listening to my recordings picking up the things that went wrong and so on, but I think you can also practise to listen to your own recordings as it is someone else.

[katica]

Hello folks, I've not been able to be very active on the Forum the last few days...

Well done, schraeubchen!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) It's a rare experience to play pieces "better than ever before" in an exam and it sounds as though the idea that occurred to you about having the room to yourself to fill with music was a moment of true enlightenment! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I hope you get the great results that you deserve!

The comments about recording one's practice have raised a great sense of guilt in me. Firstly, because I have not practiced as frequently/much/well as a I should. But a couple of evenings I felt so exhausted I think it would have been counter-productive. Secondly, my teacher often tells me I should record myself but I always seem to manage to "forget" or find an excuse not to (batteries dead, short time to practice so no time to go find the recorder, etc). At the bottom of it is that I really loathe how I sound when I record myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[corenfa]

...
I would say, I played the pieces better than ever before.
...

That's brilliant!!!

But the most important thing was, that during my solo piece I had the idea: "You have this big room just for you to fill it with sound!"
For someone always suffering with nerves when performing in public, it is a real big present. So even if I fail, this was to make it worth it.
...

That is also brilliant. I hope that the results reflect this feeling (not the one about failing!)

I played my pieces in public on Sunday (the exam was on Tuesday) and recorded it. I listened to it on Monday morning and tried to listen to it as it was someone else playing. And it sounded like music!
I am normally on the same side as you are, listening to my recordings picking up the things that went wrong and so on, but I think you can also practise to listen to your own recordings as it is someone else.

I love it when that happens - when you record it and then you realise, hey, that is music and *I* am playing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[corenfa]

...
The comments about recording one's practice have raised a great sense of guilt in me. Firstly, because I have not practiced as frequently/much/well as a I should. But a couple of evenings I felt so exhausted I think it would have been counter-productive. Secondly, my teacher often tells me I should record myself but I always seem to manage to "forget" or find an excuse not to (batteries dead, short time to practice so no time to go find the recorder, etc). At the bottom of it is that I really loathe how I sound when I record myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I was thinking about this - I realise that with a digital piano, "my sound" is not really my sound - I press the notes, but they're essentially samples. If Rubinstein were to play my piano, it would still sound like my piano, he'd just be operating it a heck of a lot better than I am. Playing an acoustic instrument is probably much more "personal" in that the sound you produce really IS "your" sound. I used to be very self-conscious of my recorded sound when I was a horn player but a large part of that was just being very self-conscious about my music then. I can't tell whether I hated the way I sounded, recorded, or just was very self-critical.

[nicki_flute]

Just recorded myself (yay for digital pianos) and played it back (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

On the one hand, I think to myself: wow, I managed to memorise play all the notes in that, and there are even some musical ideas coming through. My first instinct is to say BUTBUTBUT (see next point), but I shall keep firmly in my mind that memorising and learning all the notes is in itself an achievement, and I ought to be pleased with that, but not complacent.

On the other hand, I am really cringing at some of the bits that i thought I could play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Nonetheless, this is interesting because it shows the discrepancy between hearing and wishful listening.

Still, in the privacy of my own home is the best time to play in a cringeworthy way. I really need to record myself a lot more. I'm not really even that hung up about listening to myself any more because recording has been so beneficial in the past.

I know what you feel like - I always seem to go BUTBUTBUT. Or get to the end of a piece and think urgh. I do find recording really helpful, even if I hate listening back to myself.

Hi corenfa,

sorry for not answering for such a long time. I haven't been at the computer yesterday and the day before.

Some parts of my exam went well some didn't. I would say, I played the pieces better than ever before. But the rest was more fighting with everything than music.
The examiner was again a very friendly and patient person with a lot of humour. That makes it easier.

But the most important thing was, that during my solo piece I had the idea: "You have this big room just for you to fill it with sound!"
For someone always suffering with nerves when performing in public, it is a real big present. So even if I fail, this was to make it worth it.

I played my pieces in public on Sunday (the exam was on Tuesday) and recorded it. I listened to it on Monday morning and tried to listen to it as it was someone else playing. And it sounded like music!
I am normally on the same side as you are, listening to my recordings picking up the things that went wrong and so on, but I think you can also practise to listen to your own recordings as it is someone else.

Sorry I missed your exam. Sounds like it went well, and I love the thought of just filling the room with music. I'll try it next time I play.

...
The comments about recording one's practice have raised a great sense of guilt in me. Firstly, because I have not practiced as frequently/much/well as a I should. But a couple of evenings I felt so exhausted I think it would have been counter-productive. Secondly, my teacher often tells me I should record myself but I always seem to manage to "forget" or find an excuse not to (batteries dead, short time to practice so no time to go find the recorder, etc). At the bottom of it is that I really loathe how I sound when I record myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I was thinking about this - I realise that with a digital piano, "my sound" is not really my sound - I press the notes, but they're essentially samples. If Rubinstein were to play my piano, it would still sound like my piano, he'd just be operating it a heck of a lot better than I am. Playing an acoustic instrument is probably much more "personal" in that the sound you produce really IS "your" sound. I used to be very self-conscious of my recorded sound when I was a horn player but a large part of that was just being very self-conscious about my music then. I can't tell whether I hated the way I sounded, recorded, or just was very self-critical.

Also, bear in mind that recordings don't give an exact impression as to how you sound.

[schraeubchen]

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my exam experience. Nicki, I want to keep this idea in my heart too. And soon I will have some occasions to try it out. I can only say it was a wonderful feeling, when it happened to me.

I am know on a master-class for one week. It started today and will go until next Sunday evening. I will have to play in public three times. First on Friday evening. Only for one minute, but a piece that is completely new for me and it contains modern flute techniques (singing and playing, fluttertongue and subito changing from mf to mp and things like this. And the c fourth octave occurs. A year ago I thought I will never be able to play this note.

Today I found out, that I will probably get my exam result on Wednesday afternoon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

Sorry for being short, but I already have to be ready for a group lesson in modern flute techniques.

[nicki_flute]

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my exam experience. Nicki, I want to keep this idea in my heart too. And soon I will have some occasions to try it out. I can only say it was a wonderful feeling, when it happened to me.

I am know on a master-class for one week. It started today and will go until next Sunday evening. I will have to play in public three times. First on Friday evening. Only for one minute, but a piece that is completely new for me and it contains modern flute techniques (singing and playing, fluttertongue and subito changing from mf to mp and things like this. And the c fourth octave occurs. A year ago I thought I will never be able to play this note.

Today I found out, that I will probably get my exam result on Wednesday afternoon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

Sorry for being short, but I already have to be ready for a group lesson in modern flute techniques.

Sorry for the delay.

I have a lesson tomorrow and going to try that thought tomorrow in my lesson.

What are you playing on Friday?

Oh, and did you get your exam result?

[corenfa]

Random comment from today's lesson-

Teacher: Your thumbs look like sausages.
Me: they feel like sausages too...

I thought it was a good lesson (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The main point from today's lesson was how much physical preparation is needed for learning pieces on the piano sometimes. I don't mean in the sense of weightlifting, but thinking about how to best get my hands and arms into the right positions to play things the most easily. All of the technical problems I displayed today were solved by "preparing" better - for example, I had a big octave stretch in the left hand preceded by some notes to be played by the 4th and 5th fingers. She said that while I am playing these preceding notes, I must be moving my thumb into position so that it is less of a jump. The other problems were all fixed by variations of this idea - moving some bit of some limb into position before I have to play a certain awkward bit. Pretty obvious really.

We also discussed my fear of speed. I panic when I get to fast bits, probably because I think I can't play them. Fast notes are technique that I don't have, therefore, I can't play them. It really is in my head because when she got me doing scales gradually faster and faster and faster, I was fine. Now that I know this is happening, I probably will get over it in a couple of months.

[schraeubchen]

@nicki_flute
First of all, yes I have my exam result. I passed with 110. I failed my solo piece and aural. But I passed averall, that's what counts.

On friday I played a solfeggio by a composer born 1954 or so. They asked composers to write solfeggios for Frederik of Prussia, who would have been 300 this year. And I played one of them in a special concert to celebrate Frederik.

The most important thing was, that I felt no stage fright at all. I don't know, what happened, but it was a good feeling.

How did your lesson go?

@Corenfa
I learned last lesson that sometimes it is good to use longer notes to relax your hand if this note is followed by a faster passage (in my case the note was followed by a trill). Maybe it's worth to think about it.

[nicki_flute]

@nicki_flute
First of all, yes I have my exam result. I passed with 110. I failed my solo piece and aural. But I passed averall, that's what counts.

Congratulations! Was that the Piece or am I going mad?

[schraeubchen]

@nicki_flute
First of all, yes I have my exam result. I passed with 110. I failed my solo piece and aural. But I passed averall, that's what counts.

Congratulations! Was that the Piece or am I going mad?

Your not going mad, but Piece by Ibert is on the LRSM Repertoire list and this was Grade 7 flute.
I played "The Song of the wind" by Donjon. And thanks for Congratulations!

[nicki_flute]

@nicki_flute
First of all, yes I have my exam result. I passed with 110. I failed my solo piece and aural. But I passed averall, that's what counts.

Congratulations! Was that the Piece or am I going mad?

Your not going mad, but Piece by Ibert is on the LRSM Repertoire list and this was Grade 7 flute.
I played "The Song of the wind" by Donjon. And thanks for Congratulations!

Oh, this, silly me.

I've not played that but I do know the one - lots of flats and jumps?

What are you doing to relax post-exam?