Nothing went well at practice today, every scale was out of tune and had squeaks and squeals during string crossovers. Not a very fruitful session. Had to tell myself, I HAD to continue every minute. Wanted to quit halfway. I don't know why since yesterday practice was alright. If I don't do anything today, something else will go wrong tomorrow. Sheesh.. if I go on this way, I won't even get 100 at Grade 4. Sorry, just had to vent my frustrations. Gaaahh.. it's one of those days.

Isn't it just the way sometimes?! Today, though.........I wonder if it's thunder in the air, the energy-sapping humidity? I also had a bad-practice day. Can't change position without being a semitone out or worse! third to fifth was awful! The bow doesn't seem to 'bite' on quiet bits and things going well until yesterday started to fall apart. Frustration only made it worse so I ended up on slow scales and arpeggios. Felt like I was back in my first few lessons.

So it may be just the atmosphere. I hope so. (Got to have something to blame!)

Let's say better luck for tomorrow!

P

Even the pros have bad days - especially after a couple of weeks holiday or not playing very much.

Don't ever think it's only because you're still learning that you have a bad practice day.

Come to think of it, this season in Japan (rainy season - hot and humid, currently over 30 deg.C. and either raining or thinking about it) is widely regarded as a curse specially invented for violinists. Pros don't even have important concerts at this season if they can help it.

Thanks guys! You made me feel better already! I was having a bit of a sore throat too, but seeing that I'm not alone in this made me feel better. And throat feels better now. Today WAS better although it was humid and rained. But I did my practice AFTER the rain had stopped. I hope you had a better practice session too, ThisIsUs. I got most of the scales down and my pitch improved for the pieces generally. Just having problems with string crossovers on the first piece.

Well maybe it's because i have not been playing much last month, (about three days out of seven) but I did practice everyday of this week, hence it was frustrating that even WITH practice, it turned out like this.

And yes, I think it IS the weather then! Since even the pros think such weather is a curse to violinists. I wonder why does it affect violinists more than other instrumentalists?? Is it bad for hearing? Or bad for muscles? Maybe they should move the exams to a month with better weather!

Yes, it was a little better today but the problem turned to R & LH co-ordination on rapid detache bits.

Hearing that professionals suffer bad-practice days is, on the one hand a consolation, on the other it means that you never shake off the problem completely! But I suppose bad days can afflict any instrumentalist.

At least it was cooler, the lethargy lifted, so I caught up with extra practice.

(By the way, thanks to that earlier advice I seem to have sorted out position changes without the bow bouncing about.

Peggy