HYPNOSIS!

[davy10tunes]

I was wondering, has anyone ever tried hypnosis in order to improve any aspect of their piano playing, or even to overcome performance nerves?I'm sure we all have days when we can't be bothered practicing and as a result, easily lose concentration thus slowing down our progress.You hear of athletes using hypnotherapy to improve their performance/technique.Well, what if pianists did the same.Imagine being able to practice for hours on end with the upmost cocentration.Your practice sessions would be 100% efficient!Let me know what you think, and also if you know of any famous pianists that have used hypnosis.Thanks.

  David

[ludwig]

  Personally I'm not sure if I believe in hypnosis.
As described on dictionary.com:
"An artificially induced altered state of consciousness, characterized by heightened suggestibility and receptivity to direction."
I'm not sure if the connection between the sub-conciousness and the conscious could be established...does this mean you'll have 100% efficient practice only when you've been hypnotized? I don't understand the procedure, does anyone want to enlighten me on this?

I have heard of self hypnosis for musicians, its like CD tracks which suggests that it could help musicians to gain creativity, confidence, fight stage freight, boost self esteem.. .etc.

[allthumbs]

Greetings

I was wondering, has anyone ever tried hypnosis in order to improve any aspect of their piano playing, or even to overcome performance nerves?I'm sure we all have days when we can't be bothered practicing and as a result, easily lose concentration thus slowing down our progress.You hear of athletes using hypnotherapy to improve their performance/technique.Well, what if pianists did the same.Imagine being able to practice for hours on end with the upmost cocentration.Your practice sessions would be 100% efficient!Let me know what you think, and also if you know of any famous pianists that have used hypnosis.Thanks.

   David

I have been wondering this myself. Are there any forum members that have tried hypnotherapy? Has it worked?

Cheers

allthumbs

 

[pianistimo]

i get hypnotised by my own playing.  (just kidding, but partly true).  when you become very concentrated, it's just concentration on a deeper level.  when i first started learning piano i would be very distracted by sounds outside the practice room.  people walking by.  conversation.  any noise.  now, i could play like a baby sleeping to a vaccum.  noise doesn't bother me.  i can get very focused in a practice room because usually noone goes so far as to open the door.  there are times after three or more hours of practice that things that were super hard, start coming easier.  i can feel my level of concentration is deeper because i start noticing more detail to the music.  and, a flow.

[mrchops10]

Never tried hypnosis, but Rachmaninoff went through a dry spell and tried it to great success (he felt). The musical ideas began flowing again, and he dedicated his 2nd concerto to M. Dahl, his hypnotist/psychologist. It's not exactly a schlummy piece, so who knows...

[alzado]

I am replying mainly to "pianistimo."

I don't know whether I hypnotize myself with my playing, but one odd thing is--

I totally lose track of time. 

I will start playing at say, 5:00 p.m.   An hour later, my wife calls me to dinner.  I look at my watch and I am amazed.  It seems like I have only been playing for 20 minutes or so.

Due to this "loss of time," it is often hard for me to assess just how long I have been playing or practicing on any given day. 

This is some sort of mental game that is going on.  I don't know if it is akin to hypnosis, but I do think it has to do with concentration and being absorbed in the material.

Best luck to all--

[thalbergmad]

I used it to give up smoking and it worked a treat.  I see no reason why it cannot be used for performance related problems.

The simple power of suggestion can be very strong.

I have a book in my library which specifically covers musical problems and ways to overcome them. I will dig it out and give you the author.

I also undertook retrogressional hypnosis to take me back through my previous existences, but i won't bore you with that.

[rc]

I read that Claudio Arrau benefited from psychoanalysis. Can't remember if it was for personal or musical reasons he went through psychoanalysis, but he said it helped his playing a lot.

I totally lose track of time. 

I will start playing at say, 5:00 p.m.   An hour later, my wife calls me to dinner.  I look at my watch and I am amazed.  It seems like I have only been playing for 20 minutes or so.

Due to this "loss of time," it is often hard for me to assess just how long I have been playing or practicing on any given day. 

This is some sort of mental game that is going on.  I don't know if it is akin to hypnosis, but I do think it has to do with concentration and being absorbed in the material.

I think I might've read somewhere that this state of mind is basically the same as hypnosis. Don't hold me to it though, I'm not entirely sure.

I do know it's not unique to music, I have an artist friend who gets this too when he really gets into a drawing.