Piano Forum

Topic: Does this happen to anyone else?  (Read 1469 times)

Offline xiuber

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 8
Does this happen to anyone else?
on: November 12, 2013, 11:58:34 AM
Sometimes when I practice, my technique, my emotion and all sorts of things go all over the place-despite having played the same piece properly before. Has anyone experienced this problem before? if so how did you solve it?

Offline mikeowski

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 262
Re: Does this happen to anyone else?
Reply #1 on: November 12, 2013, 12:51:36 PM
When this happens to me it's mostly because I've practiced too fast.
The problems go away and I start improving much faster as soon as I slow down my practicing.

Offline bronnestam

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 716
Re: Does this happen to anyone else?
Reply #2 on: November 12, 2013, 02:47:45 PM
Sometimes when I practice, my technique, my emotion and all sorts of things go all over the place-despite having played the same piece properly before. Has anyone experienced this problem before? if so how did you solve it?

Oh yes, happens to me all the time.

I guess it is just a part of the learning process. There are days when I fail totally with something that I played wonderfully the day before. It means my playing is not stable at all - I must go back to HS practice, very slow practice etcetera. Yes, especially very slow practice, very "planned" practice which means that I think more and play less. It can be a bit frustrating but after a while with this back-to-basics-practice I usually find that I play better than ever before and with much more confidence.
So, you just don't have to see these moments as failures, but as processing steps. It is the same as when you leave a piece for a while, and then, when you return to it many days later, to your surprise find that you play it much better than before, even though you feared you would have forgotten some of your skills. Learning is about many complicated subconscious processes, I think, and it is not always a straight line from A to Z.

Even the best pianists use slow practicing so it is not a stage that is ever abandoned, I think.

Offline rmbarbosa

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 453
Re: Does this happen to anyone else?
Reply #3 on: November 12, 2013, 04:25:39 PM
A very good and useful post, the Bronnestam one.
Sometimes, one day without playing is also a very good thing. Also varying the routine.
Pianists are human beings, not machines. So we can get tired, bored, etc...
I know a piano teacher who says that the task of learning to play isnt only to play but also physical exercise or yoga or go to the beach or to the cinema.
All theese activities are not a lost of time but a way to improve our musical capacities.
best wishes and courage!
rui

Offline xiuber

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 8
Re: Does this happen to anyone else?
Reply #4 on: November 13, 2013, 12:15:16 AM
Thanks guys!  ;D

Offline rubato22

  • PS Silver Member
  • Newbie
  • ***
  • Posts: 8
Re: Does this happen to anyone else?
Reply #5 on: November 15, 2013, 10:42:03 AM
I can sometimes play amazingly fluently after a break, maybe a week or two. I think, to look a little deeper it's because playing anything is somewhat metaphysical and we're entering into true self and nature by making music. If everything conspires well it's good and if some (other) things aren't just as they should be it may be not so good. For a simpler explanation of mans interactions with nature see wind/wee.....
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert