One Month Sabbatical- possible benefits?

[kelly_kelly]

For the whole month of August, I was on vacation in India, and was consequent;ly unable to practice.

When I returned home, I initially found that my fingers fumbled more than usual, and that memory lapses occured in pieces I had long since internalized. I was upset, naturally, and began immediately to practice. Over the next two days, however, I found that I was able to rectify these flaws with relative ease and alacrity. What's more, I felt as though my playing were... fresher, I guess, and that I had almost a different perspective of the pieces than I had had before.

My question is this- does taking (very) occasional breaks actually help? Or am I just imagining things?

[quasimodo]

My question is this- does taking (very) occasional breaks actually help? Or am I just imagining things?

I think it does benefit. It allows your mind to step back from all your frustrations and subconscious blocks related to your piano playing. I would use the analogy of de-fragmenting a hard drive.

[rc]

Absolutely!  I have similar experiences...  Coming back to the piano with a fresh perspective.  Does wonders for the motivation, when all you can do is think and dream of piano.

[nicco]

Sometimes, taking long breaks from the piano is just necessary.

[leucippus]

My question is this- does taking (very) occasional breaks actually help? Or am I just imagining things?

I've found this to be the case.   I started playing both the violin and piano in February of 2005.  I practice very intensely until about May.  I was making progress, but it was slow going.

Then I was forced to take about a 3 month leave from both instruments.  When I got back home I thought it would be like starting over again.  And indeed, like you say, in the very beginning it almost was like starting over.  But within a matter of days I right back to where I left off with the added bonus of being able to play much better than when I left off. 

This was considerably noticeable with the violin even more so than with the piano.  I felt like I could actually play the violin, where before I felt like I was really struggling with it.   

I practice very intensely pretty much all last winter and this summer I haven't been able to do much again.  So when I get back into it seriously this fall I wonder if I'll get another "boost".  I feel pretty confident that I will.

One thing to note though is that I was practicing pretty intensely when I left off.  I was also pushing myself to try things that were more advanced than what I could do.   That may have played a role in the overall effect.   In other words, if someone isn't putting much into their practicing, or if they were practing hard, then taking a long break and coming back to it probably isn't going to have a huge effect for them.  I was seriously pushing myself before I left off so I may have actually been going into overload or burnout.  I think that's when a long break will really have a noticeable effect.

[ramseytheii]

Arrau always took a month sabbatical away from the piano, and said that when he came back to the instrument, it was always an "event."

Walter Ramsey

[phil13]

I had the same experience as you, kelly_kelly, only my vacation was only a week.

I suppose it allows you to think about the music without the strain of practicing it as well, and when you return to it, your mind incorporates what you thought about when you weren't practicing, and the music seems 'different'. More 'alive'.

Phil

[donjuan]

yeah, I found the same thing back in August when I wasgone for 2.5 weeks.  It really makes you realize the world is so much larger than you thought.  The piano is not your whole life; play it or dont play it, youll be happy one way or another.  Just remember:

a) keep your bowels moving
and
b) feed your children the truth and love

I read b) as graffiti in the bathroom stall in the Philosophy Building at University while doing a)

and there you go, 'the world Chico, and everything in it.' -Scarface

[arbisley]

That effect can possibly also be achieved by just trying out a new piece and coming back to the old ones a few weeks later, which leaves the brain the time to "mature" over what it's been doing, and it also gets rid of any unnecessary reflexes acquired in that time.....to a certain extent of course. It's like all alternative means, they are quite good when only used sometimes and after anything "normal" in the practice routine has been done. one shouldn't make a habit of only half-learning a pece and leaving the brain the rest of the work to do on its own!

[rafant]

Famous pianist Josef Hoffman used to recommend such a piano vacation every year, just for the benefits you discovered.

[thalbergmad]

I have always found huge benefits in not playing for a month or 2.

I find i come back with renewed enthusiasm and vigour and just a couple of hours practise brings me back to where i was.

Mind you, i am only a humble amateur hack.

Thal