Hi everyone, I have a bit of a problem........If I am practicing and playing (piano mostly) and someone comes in, talks to me, fiddles around doing something etc, it really puts me off and I "lose the flow" of playing! It's really frustrating, especially if I've warmed up, done scales etc and am really into my playing.....am I just being really sensitive or do other people experience this? I just can't go back to my playing once I've lost the flow...please help!!!!!

I get that sometimes too. My mum always comes along and starts talking to me about something irrelevant or talks to herself in the kitchen as soon as I start practising and it really puts me off. It gets really annoying and I feel like shouting at her sometimes, it's very frustrating. When I start to practise, I brace myself for when she will come and attempt to talk to me while playing, and I can't concentrate from the beginning.

That always happens to me. Its not your fault. have you ever watched a concert with a big band in the background while a pianist was playing? NO! That's becasue you're supposed to have no distractions. The examiner doesn't talk to you while you perform, therefore, its not your fault. Lock the door or something, that's what I do.
Actually, I'm worse, I memorise pieces and my fingers do too, so when I make a mistake, I have to start form the beginning becasue I can't remember how to continue.

I've managed to work my way around that by ignoring anyone who tries to talk to me when i'm in full flow, eventually my parents have learned that trying to talk to me whilst i'm playing the violin doesn't work!

Do you think it might be worth having a word with the people concerned, and explain the situation? It sounds as though they don't quite appreciate the importance of uninterrupted practice - they're not musicians, are they?!

I am sure they will understand.

Mrs M

Well sometimes I'll be playing and then someone will come into my room, and I hate it when people come in, so I stop playing, and then as you say, it is hard to get back into the mindset of playing.

That happened to me today in one of my schools practice room, I had spend 15 mins warming up, played 2 pieces and then I moved onto my third piece (I was practicing for my exam) and someone came in. Then I couldn't get back in 'the flow' even though I tried for another 15 mins.

I suppose a big "keep out" sign might work lol