Mind ever wonder while practicing?

[Molson]

I usually stay pretty concetrated, but sometimes I find my mind wondering.You?

[Celeste]

Ummmmmm........yeah!! What was I righting about; oh yeah about my mind wandering (lol). Here's what I do. I try to think in the mind of the composer when he was writing it. Was he mad or happy, or sad or love-struck, the list could go on and on. I once heard that you should tell a story about your song. Literally, make up a word or every note or so. Then you will be interested in the song you are "telling".

[rachfan]

Celeste makes an excellent point.  If your mind is focused on the composer's intent, interpretation, and attendant technical details, and/or even forming mental imagery that helps you to project the piece, that's true concentration during practice.  

On the other hand, if what are entering your mind are completely extraneous thoughts (doing an errand later, unthawing the vegetables, checking email, tonight's date, etc.), that means that it's time to stop.  No further value will come of the practice session.  Worse yet, with your mind bifurcated between practice and unrelated thoughts, you'll be committing errors that will undo your progress.  Tomorrow is another day.

[amee]

Both RachFan and Celeste have some excellent points.  If you ever find your mind wandering, it means you are not concentrating on the music and the result could be contrary to the one you want.  The mind is just as important to music as your hands are.  Take a break and rest your mind for awhile, then come back to the piano when you are both physically and mentally fresh.

[natasha]

i often think about what i have to get done that day, or replay events that happened in my head. i usually do that while repeating the same piece over and over again.

[lea]

definately

thanks for da hints

[rubleski]

My mind doensn't wander much when practicing but it does all the time in performances, i don't know why.

[littlechopin]

At home, I often find my mind wondering...
In concert my mind is BLANK (scared)!!!
How can you, Rubleski???

[Spatula]

Holy Cow, I was just gonna start a topic on this mind wandering stuff...!!

Yeah especially when I do my technique or a piece that keeps repeating I think about what's for dinner..that sort of thing, and I'm not always putting concious effort into playing into it.  I don't know if this is a bad thing, probably is, and plus when I get to a part I don't know, I just repeat the stuff I know and day dream on, bad spatula.

[f0bul0us]

I usually find myself thinking about what I'll be doing in the upcoming weekend when playing a boring passage.

[matticus]

I get this. Usually I find that switching to concentrate on very small phrases helps me to focus; if this doesn't work I stop practising.

[jr11]

During actual practice I have to concentrate. However when just playing for pleasure, I sometimes get off on a train of thought and almost forget I'm playing the piano.

There is little room in written classical works for drifting away, but in improv a little mind alteration proves expansive, and can be a good basis for creation (ie: a bit 'a dope helps). During such times, one must remember to first hit play/record. There are always some good moments betwix the drivel.