Is there such a thing as too much practice?

[peterw712]

If so, how do you know when you've practiced too much?

[dima_76557]

Is there such a thing as too much practice? If so, how do you know when you've practiced too much?

1. You are no longer focused on what you should be doing;
2. You start experiencing pain, either during or after practice;
3. Your partner threatens divorce;
4. Your neighbors come at your door with an axe in their hands.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

1. You are no longer focused on what you should be doing;
2. You start experiencing pain, either during or after practice;
3. Your partner threatens divorce;
4. Your neighbors come at your door with an axe in their hands.

Brilliant! Is that in order of ascending severity?

[gyzzzmo]

Another thing to add here:  Some people tend to practise a certain part too often, because it is too hard or they like it too much. That way they loose the 'feel' of a part and cant play it properly anymore.

[brogers70]

I don't know about too much practice, but I'm starting to think that I make more progress over the long term when I take one day a week without practicing at all.

[ranniks]

If so, how do you know when you've practiced too much?

In my opinion, no.

I could play 5 hours a day. I would be bothering my neighbours and family if I did that though.

If I plan on ever doing 5 hours in a single day, mind you I havn't even done 2 hours in one day yet, then I would play in intervals of 30 minutes combined with 15 minutes rest or longer rest and longer playing.

In my opinion, if you believe that something is too much or tiresome for yourself, your body will respond accordingly. So if you go with the mindset that this is something that you really want to do and are ready to learn, then it won't feel as too much.

[ajspiano]

I like dima's answer. Pretty spot on.

Typically in reference to number 2 though, I usually tell a student to stop and consult me about the passage next lesson, especially if there is a recurrence on subsequent days and if it happens within a short time frame.

That said, less of a problem nowadays, but some time ago my own response to this was not so much "stop" but "why" ... and in turn, can I alleviate this right now by altering the physical/mental approach.

I suspect that that may be relevant to the forum populace in general, there are many here without teachers.

There are circumstances where that wont just go away, and work has to be done at the instrument to rectify it, and if you don't have someone to tell you what to do you have to figure it out first by trial and error, and in turn by educated analysis as you become more well versed in the concepts involved.

[mikeowski]

In my opinion, no.

I havn't even done 2 hours in one day yet

Come back when you've done 8

1. You are no longer focused on what you should be doing;
2. You start experiencing pain, either during or after practice;
3. Your partner threatens divorce;
4. Your neighbors come at your door with an axe in their hands.

This sums it up perfectly. Sounds a bit like someone's last diary entry.
Hour 4 - Concentration starts to fade. Must go on though, piano recital tomorrow!
Hour 6 - My hands hurt. And my arms. And shoulders. Ouch!
Hour 8 - Wife threatened divorce. Again.
Hour 10 - Somebody rang the doorbell. I wonder who it is..

 

[lojay]

So if you go with the mindset that this is something that you really want to do and are ready to learn, then it won't feel as too much.

You'll also develop an RSI!

[faulty_damper]

From a neurological point of view, yes, you can over-practice.  For some reason, not quite yet known, overstimulated neurons appear to return to their resting state, thus causing errors in performance.  This is probably why it becomes increasingly more difficult to concentrate and focus on practicing the same passage for a long time because your neurons have disengaged from the activity.  A simpler way to say this is that your brain cells become tired with too much practice and need to rest.

One perk of this phenomenon is that you are conscious of this fact by losing focus and concentration.  So if you feel the loss of focus and concentration, then simply move on to something else that doesn't tax the same neurons or take a break which can include naps.