Focus and concentration

[katefarquharson]

So I'm having real trouble with focus and concentration in general but I'm really noticing it getting worse in piano.

Main reason for this is my medication that I take (bipolar) and dose changes really make my concentration worse. My piano teacher who I've had for a year has always noticed that I drift in and out of focus in pieces and even scales. I'm actually changing teacher because I haven't made much progress in the year I've been with him and I don't think we click.

I'm going to start working on meditation and do some research into improving focus and concentration.

What I was wondering was if anyone knows of exercises or techniques I can try specifically for piano? I know that doing general work on concentration will naturally improve it and show in my playing but any advice on approaches I can take for practise?

[karenvcruz]

I had a similar problem when I was in my 20s so my teacher then would advise me to practice concentration exercises such as staring at the flame of a candle for five minutes, then close my eyes and keep the image of the flame in my mind.  Eventually,  I needed to focus on ensuring the image of the flame stayed in my mind for more than 5 minutes. It worked then at least for me.

Now that I am in my 50s, I have found turning on the TV but killing the sound helpful when I play scales and warm-up exercises.

Incidentally, I wouldn't know if you believe in the Chinese Feng Shui slthough here in our country, we do tend to follow the advise of feng shui experts.  I consulted one expert who advised my to move my piano so that it would be facing north... that is, the keyboard should be facing north, and when I am playing on it, I am the one facing south.  In fairness, when I did it, it actually worked and I could now practice and focus for at least a minimum of three hours.

You may want to check though your own body and mental time when you are best effective. I notice that in my case, I can best concentrate when I practice in the evenings (usually around 9 pm till midnight or even until 2 am).  I read the Van Cliburn used to practice at around 1:30 to 4 am.  afternoons appear lousy for me since that is when I notice focusing is harder.

[quantum]

You could also try focusing on something specific, rather than a general focus on playing the piano.  Say you were having trouble with rhythm in a piece.  Then dedicate your practice session to rhythm.  Be highly observant of rhythm, as this is what you have specifically chosen to focus on.  Work on other pieces as well but continue with your heightened sensitivity to rhythm, because that is what your focus is for this session.  Even on pieces where rhythm is not a problem, focus on it.  Think about why you can play these rhythms.  What are you doing in order that you are executing them successfully?  

Your mind may drift a little during the session.  This is not bad as long as you keep it in check and bring back your focus.  Maybe if you want to let your mind drift, do it in a controlled manner.  Say improvise rhythms.  This would still keep in your chosen area of focus.  

[katefarquharson]

I had a similar problem when I was in my 20s so my teacher then would advise me to practice concentration exercises such as staring at the flame of a candle for five minutes, then close my eyes and keep the image of the flame in my mind.

I have indeed tried this! I found it quite difficult so only tried twice. The first time my stupid cat wouldn't leave me alone and shutting the door means she just scratches it! The second time I was interrupted by someone at the door. I also found it difficult doing it without glasses, felt that they would interfere but from 1-2ft my vision blurs so the flame was just a glow. I'll have to investigate a bit more I think.

I once tried practising at night and it did work quite well, but I can't really do it because it's too loud for the neighbours!

quantum: I like this idea of focusing on specifics. Far too often I'm just messing about practising this bit and that bit etc. I need to be more structured and set goals.

[kj77]

I played in an adult masterclass for pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen last year and he offered some very interesting tips. He talked about internal thoughts (the music, the sounds we are making) and external thoughts (worry, 'did they hear that bum note?', the audience don't look happy etc). these 2 thought processes cannot co-exist which is a good starting point in marshalling thoughts. Step one, practise, like a conductor, by thinking of all we have to do as pianists (melody, inner parts, pedalling, balance etc)...the more we listen to ourselves as we play and have a dialogue, the less time we have to worry - simply we have too much to do.
Its a long journey I know and we will never be able to focus 100% all the time, as human beings, but by eliminating the external thoughts as much as possible and concentrating on all the good things, and demanding things, to consider, is at least a start. Good luck friends!

[andreslr6]

I'm still convinced that the best method to improve and work on focus and concentration is to always dedicate a part of your practice sessions on just playing the pieces, scales or whatever you want as slow as you can possibly imagine, really slow. My teacher always reminds me of how his teacher (who in turn learned this with Dieter Weber in Vienna back in the 60s-70s) worked concentration with him, he always puts the Chopin op.10 no.4 as an example, he said his teacher had him play it at about 50-60 bpm each 16th paying close attention to every little detail, from each individual sound to the movement of each finger, and at the very first imprecision or mistake he would make him start it all over again until he got to the end perfectly. The point of doing this is that you're focused on so many things at the same time that you literally don't have time for distraction or loose concentration. Of course, it's not something you get right at the first attempt, but eventually you will with patient practice.

[katefarquharson]

I played in an adult masterclass for pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen last year and he offered some very interesting tips.

I studied with Andrew as a junior at Trinity!!! He's so wonderful

I'm still convinced that the best method to improve and work on focus and concentration is to always dedicate a part of your practice sessions on just playing the pieces, scales or whatever you want as slow as you can possibly imagine, really slow.

I practise 'slowly', but I think I really should go as slow as you are saying. You are exactly right that it's all about patience. I've got a break from lessons for a month and I'm going to keep going over my pieces but super super slow!

[nyiregyhazi]

I'm still convinced that the best method to improve and work on focus and concentration is to always dedicate a part of your practice sessions on just playing the pieces, scales or whatever you want as slow as you can possibly imagine, really slow. My teacher always reminds me of how his teacher (who in turn learned this with Dieter Weber in Vienna back in the 60s-70s) worked concentration with him, he always puts the Chopin op.10 no.4 as an example, he said his teacher had him play it at about 50-60 bpm each 16th paying close attention to every little detail, from each individual sound to the movement of each finger, and at the very first imprecision or mistake he would make him start it all over again until he got to the end perfectly. The point of doing this is that you're focused on so many things at the same time that you literally don't have time for distraction or loose concentration. Of course, it's not something you get right at the first attempt, but eventually you will with patient practice.

agreed. I don't want to argue that pure concentration on concentration itself is altogether a waste of time, but it's very difficult to get into and it may not have all that much to do with the real issues anyway. focus on actually doing something with awareness and intent is a much better way to get started than trying to clear your mind. Feldenkrais exercises are very useful. I tried meditation before but had very little success. with Feldenkrais exercises, you focus similar mindfulness into awareness of qualities of movement, not into nothingness. in that respect it both trains general concentration, like meditation, but more importantly the more specific ability to better perceive yourself performing tasks.This helps in piano playing- allowing you to become more aware of what your body is doing and where you are not moving well. check out openatm.org for free exercises. But above all, you need clear intentions both musically and in terms of technique. if these are not abundantly clear in your mind, emptying your mind with generic rather than targeted concentration will prove to be futile. Generic concentration is something for polished masters. The rest of us need to direct it towards the specific holes in our ability and awareness. before looking for esoteric solutions, we need to look at pragmatic ones. Mistakes are rarely about mere short term concentration, but about the fundaments of our overall awareness of what is required to play well. just because we sometimes play something right, it doesn't mean we've adequately mastered the technical side or truly understood the musical construction from the inside out. only when these are comprehensively dealt with can we blame the level of concentration in the moment itself. it's usually much more to do with the global perspective of what we have been doing (and above all what we've been missing out on) during many practise sessions.

[awesom_o]

That was a very thoughtful post, and I agree with everything you have said to the extent that I understood it

Specifically the point you made about targeted concentration vs. generic concentration. I thought that was good!

[kj77]

Kate that's a brilliant coincidence! I found Andrew inspiring. Really friendly but rigorous, and he played beautifully in a concert with a top tenor the night before our master class. So clearly puts his own theories to the test. Do you still study with him? Trinity where?

[katefarquharson]

kj77 - I don't study with him anymore unfortunately, wish I was! I was making such good progress with him and was doing better 2 years ago when I was studying with him than I am now! I was in the junior department of Trinity College of Music in London (now trinity laban) but I had to move to South Africa where I've been with a teacher for a year but I'm about to change to another as it wasn't working with my current teacher.

nyiregyhazi - I'm going to look into Feldenkrais, it looks really interesting. Thanks!

[kj77]

I wonder if he does private teaching.
So sorry to hear that you were enjoying his teaching and then had to leave the UK. There is nothing worse than finding someone you really click with, and who works for you, only to then have to move area...I really hope you find someone who works for you Kate.

[katefarquharson]

Thanks! I have a good feeling that the next teacher I go to will be good, hopefully I'm right!!!!
Maybe he does teach privately, definitely contact him to find out

[kj77]

Hope it works out well! We've all been there.

[okanaganmusician]

Its interesting - in the day and age of technology where we are constantly getting stimulated in short blurbs, attention spans and concentration are suffering...perhaps there is a coincidence 

Make sure to focus on the music.  That seems like an overly simplistic solution, but when we are dialed in on what sound we are producing that very moment, it will be hard to think about anything else or brain wandering.

Just make sure to focus on the present, and not on the mistake you made a few bars back or the hard part coming up ahead!

[senanserat]

Its interesting - in the day and age of technology where we are constantly getting stimulated in short blurbs, attention spans and concentration are suffering...perhaps there is a coincidence 

Make sure to focus on the music.  That seems like an overly simplistic solution, but when we are dialed in on what sound we are producing that very moment, it will be hard to think about anything else or brain wandering.

Just make sure to focus on the present, and not on the mistake you made a few bars back or the hard part coming up ahead!

I concur that this is the most but effective method, as useless as it may sound focus on the music itself.

[nyiregyhazi]

Its interesting - in the day and age of technology where we are constantly getting stimulated in short blurbs, attention spans and concentration are suffering...perhaps there is a coincidence  

Make sure to focus on the music.  That seems like an overly simplistic solution, but when we are dialed in on what sound we are producing that very moment, it will be hard to think about anything else or brain wandering.

Just make sure to focus on the present, and not on the mistake you made a few bars back or the hard part coming up ahead!

it depends on your quality of technique though. if you don't have an extremely good technique, focusing on the the sound merely means observing quite how deficient the results are compared to what you can conceive of. I was sincerely tempted to quit out of sheer frustration, a few years back- as all my focus was on musical issues and none of the sounds I achieved were an adequate representation of what I intended. Stepping back from my musical ideals and concentrating on getting simple even articulation with a suitable quality of movement has since made it more feasible to focus on the music result with a reasonable shot at achieving it. To progress I actually had to RESTRAIN myself from thinking about my musical ideals, for the time, and settle for something much simpler and less exaggerated.

[okanaganmusician]

it depends on your quality of technique though. if you don't have an extremely good technique, focusing on the the sound merely means observing quite how deficient the results are compared to what you can conceive of. I was sincerely tempted to quit out of sheer frustration, a few years back- as all my focus was on musical issues and none of the sounds I achieved were an adequate representation of what I intended. Stepping back from my musical ideals and concentrating on getting simple even articulation with a suitable quality of movement has since made it more feasible to focus on the music result with a reasonable shot at achieving it. To progress I actually had to RESTRAIN myself from thinking about my musical ideals, for the time, and settle for something much simpler and less exaggerated.

That's a good point - if your technique can't keep up to the sound you are striving for, then that's a totally different problem and focusing and concentrating shouldn't even be something to worry about - just getting technique up to snuff.

But the OP was asking about focus and concentration so I was attempting to share some insight on that particular topic.

[kj77]

Kate. I thought you might be interested in this disc featuring your former teacher mentioned above here. I have ordered it. I have heard Andrew performing at the Southbank Centre a few times. Exemplary collaborative pianist and a good teacher.
https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/British%2BMusic%2BSociety/BMS437CD

[lucianeldred]

I find several benefits in taking about a half hour walk or more before practicing. When I get back, my mind feels clear and refreshed (especially if it's a nice day out) and it's easier to focus. Also since walking stimulates blood flow and gets your body feeling active, I find warm-ups at the piano to come easier. A healthy body helps create a healthy mind.

[dima_76557]

I'm still convinced that the best method to improve and work on focus and concentration is to always dedicate a part of your practice sessions on just playing the pieces, scales or whatever you want as slow as you can possibly imagine, really slow.

May I add something exceptionally effective to this?
1) do it blindfolded (= no feedback from the eyes)
Then
2) do it on a silent keyboard (= no feedback from the ears)

If you can combine both 1 + 2, then that is just fantastic.

P.S.: Very often, as I noticed, we simply have too many senses working at once and against us to be able to concentrate.

[farm boy]

Found the above articles very interesting.   Yeah my concentration when playing in front if ANYONE (even my wife) is shot.    I can't seem to get rid of the thoughts mentioned herein when trying to perform.  Thoughts like 'I think I sound ok', 'I think they will think I play well or I am playing this piece well', etc.    as soon as I t.hink these thoughts I just play the wrong notes and often at places where I have never made a mistake in practice.  I always conclude that I just don't know the piece well enough, but I can play it perfect when alone.   It is a tough one.   

[awesom_o]

Found the above articles very interesting.   Yeah my concentration when playing in front if ANYONE (even my wife) is shot.    I can't seem to get rid of the thoughts mentioned herein when trying to perform.  Thoughts like 'I think I sound ok', 'I think they will think I play well or I am playing this piece well', etc.    as soon as I t.hink these thoughts I just play the wrong notes and often at places where I have never made a mistake in practice.  I always conclude that I just don't know the piece well enough, but I can play it perfect when alone.   It is a tough one.   

This is what we are up against when we play in front of people, regardless of our level.
This problem never fully goes away. The better you get, the more you are able to focus ENTIRELY on the music in the moment. But those thoughts of 'I think......' always try to creep in.

It is our job as music-makers to provide a performance that is as profound and truthful as we can deliver!  In order to do this, we must think only about the music, and not about ourselves! It's not easy. If it were easy, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun!!!!

[swebac]

Found the above articles very interesting.   Yeah my concentration when playing in front if ANYONE (even my wife) is shot.    I can't seem to get rid of the thoughts mentioned herein when trying to perform.  Thoughts like 'I think I sound ok', 'I think they will think I play well or I am playing this piece well', etc.    as soon as I t.hink these thoughts I just play the wrong notes and often at places where I have never made a mistake in practice.  I always conclude that I just don't know the piece well enough, but I can play it perfect when alone.   It is a tough one.   

 I'm new here. Will ask for help for sure, now I am mostly reading.

 But this is a solution, and it made dramatic changes for me.

    Take a text, 300-400 words. The exercise consists in count them, and concentrate on getting rid of any other thoughts while doing that, disregarding the meaning of those words too. For a long time, it will be impossible though. But that doesn't matter, your concentration will get better just by trying. When a thought creeps in, say NO mentally, and focus back to counting. Don't move lips or say words inside your closed mouth. It has to be a purely mental exercise. As you try, it won't take more than 15-20 words and the focus is gone, you will already plan what to do when you're finished, or think about concentrating, about not thinking, about the meaning of the words, and so on. Just keep going.
  In the beginning don't do more than 3-4 minutes per day. On the first day, I did this a few times, one of the sessions lasting 10 minutes, and latter I tried to play the piano. I sat there and could not lift my hand. I probably could have if I really made a big effort, but I felt so exhausted. My head felt like I was wearing a helmet. Some 40 years ago, I got sun sting one summer. This reminded me of that feeling. It took 3 days to feel better again. So do not overdo it. And not before important tasks, at least for a while.
  Note that it's concentration on a task, not clearing your mind.
    To avoid making a too long post, will keep details of how it worked for me for another time, but it changed my life, even though I didn't manage to keep it up for long.