ENERGY

[punkpianist360]

   With the craziness of our busy lives, with school and our jobs, we only have time to practice during the nights, and most likely pull all nighters.  My question to you: what is the best way to stay awake at night when practicing?  Any energy drinks that fit our kind best?  Details! Details!

[weissenberg2]

I never have had to do that, but have you tried drinking coffee? maybe energy drinks would work as well.

[punkpianist360]

Negative effect on me for some reason.

[antichrist]

The very morning / before dinner

[Bob]

Yes, coffee can get things moving.  Haha.

I've been drinking a Red Bull in the morning.  In the evening they don't seem so great, just a buzzy head.  But in the morning they actually seem refreshing. 

[nanabush]

Once I had to do some overnight work at my dad's clinic (tedious task of hiding wires under desks, ergonomic stuff).

I ate a big greasy meal (A&W) and got two extra large coffees triple triple.  I lasted until about 4:30 in the morning, then crashed hard   the minute I got home, I didn't even make it to my room - I went to the couch right in the basement where I came in, and slept there until about midday (luckily this was on a weekend).

If you literally mean an all nighter, then I'd suggest lots of sleep the night before.  You usually hit a point where you'll feel tired, but if you persist through it it'll pass.

[Bob]

You can use willpower, but your body and mind don't absorb things as well.  Long term, healthy things are better. 

I haven't really heard of any pianists pulling all-nighters for practicing a piece though.  I don't think it would work too well to not have any recovery time and push the body and mind like that.

[gyzzzmo]

if you need nights to study the piano, youre doing something seriously wrong. Instead of managing 'energy', try setting some priorities?
Maybe if you spent less hours at night not sleeping, you might actually be able to learn stuff faster and better during daytime, giving you plenty of time studying piano properly.

[punkpianist360]

The thing is I have school from 8:30 AM to 3:20 PM plus homework.  What else?

[cherub_rocker1979]

Try this:

[Bob]

Get homework done at school.  Practice during school.  Do homeowork while eating lunch.  I remember doing that.  Kind of blows off people at school, but you probably won't see them much after high school anyway.


(Bob rings a bell) ding, ding, ding
Yes, I would like one Powerthirst please.  Is the Fizzbitch flavor low-cal?

[abj]

After a night's sleep, and day's heavy labour
An hour's rest is all that is needed.
I prescribe a brief nap before playing.

[rc]

The thing is I have school from 8:30 AM to 3:20 PM plus homework.  What else?

I hear that, started school this year and they REALLY keep us busy with homework.

My solution was to prioritize and, frankly, not do certain things, or do them very quickly.  It's kind of absurd really, the music program is all great material but with such a short timespan to cram everything in, there's only so much a person can do in a day and after a point there's not much retention.  I feel for the teachers as well, I'm sure if they had their way a simester would be longer than 13 weeks.

[omar_roy]

After a night's sleep, and day's heavy labour
An hour's rest is all that is needed.
I prescribe a brief nap before playing.

This.

A short nap is perfect for refreshing your mind, complete it with a refreshing drink (glass of ice water or juice) and you're good to go.  I also find it helpful to keep a granola bar and a container of juice with me while practicing.  The extra sugar keeps me going strong whether I'm practicing or studying.

Sometimes all you need isn't even a nap, but 30 minutes of just sitting around doing nothing.