What is the longest you've gone without practicing?

[wintervind]

Due to vacations, personal problems, piano problems,

and how hard was it for you to get back to where you were?

I will be without a piano for a couple of months and I am worried about the prospect of loosing what I have gained over the years (not to mention the torture of not playing ) I would love to hear your expericences!
Thanks in advance for your replies!

[TheHammer]

I will be without a piano for a couple of months

 
What? Man, I could not stand this... *feels very, very sorry*

the longest time was, I guess 8 days, because of skiing holidays. Hard times... But after this week I could come back quite easily. Some very difficult passages even went a bit better, that occurs quite often to me, that pauses help me to overcome technical problems. And it is also a cool experience to "rediscover" the sound of the piano after such a long time w/o playing. Okay, I do not really know what it will feel like after months, but I think with a little technical programme when restarting, you should easily bring back your old standard (where have I read about this woman, being able to still play from memory entire recitals, after years of imprisonment by the nazis? But okay, she was a concert pianist, as I recall). The hard thing will be to get your old rhythm of practice. It is really hard and requires some discipline to go back to the old routine. It is really mean. You are looking forward all the time to eventually play the piano again, but after three days of playing you think: No, don't want to... The appetite is gone, you are lazy, it really is a pity...so work on your attitude towards practice!

Another thing... You are sure you can not play any other piano that time? And what about theory or mental practice? Or make a 5-year plan, listening, theory etc. You could achieve a lot in some months (assuming that, because you can't practice, you will have some free hours a day). On the other hand, it is also quite painful to think about the piano all the time when not being able to play. Anyway, do SOMETHING, so that you don't go lazy. Then again, of course, I have no idea what could hinder you to play for such a long time...

[wintervind]

Another thing... You are sure you can not play any other piano that time? And what about theory or mental practice? Or make a 5-year plan, listening, theory etc. You could achieve a lot in some months (assuming that, because you can't practice, you will have some free hours a day). On the other hand, it is also quite painful to think about the piano all the time when not being able to play. Anyway, do SOMETHING, so that you don't go lazy. Then again, of course, I have no idea what could hinder you to play for such a long time...

Thank you for your reply!
Yes, I am doing things away from the piano, and I can probably go into some shops during my travels and dink around a bit but I wont be able to seriously practice for any great length of time until I return.

Just to add to the thread: My purpose for starting this thread is to hear others experiences. I don't necessarly need advice such as the responce I have quoted (no offence intended!) There is already plenty of info on the PF on the topic of practicing away from the piano!
Thanks again..

[whynot]

Well, actually, about 8 years, most of my twenties.  It was a complicated situation, many factors.  My reading was pretty normal when I came back.  My hands took, I don't know, a few weeks?  Maybe several weeks.  Not super long.  I had other struggles with it that wouldn't be very interesting here, but the physical agility came back quickly.  I don't recommend that people take a decade off!!   It's just what happened.  Happy travels!   

[ted]

I have only just got my piano back after seven weeks of having the whole action replaced. Remarkably, I noticed that several minor faults in my playing from before had disappeared. Admittedly I did have my silent practice clavier, so I managed to keep pretty agile physically. However, the exercise has left me confident I could go for long periods and not forget anything.

[Tash]

oh 2 months that'll be painful. i went travelling around europe/usa last year and actually counted the number of days i went without practicing- 24 days until we got to london and found a piano except i was so sick it wasn't worth doing- wins as the most useless piano prac of my life! then another 17 days and was allowed to play the baby grand in the bar in a hotel in switzerland- SO cool. and then some more time did another prac at a friends in salt lake city. so overall it was almost 2 months not doing regular practice that was awful, started of my worst year of piano so far. how optimistic am i!

[gkatele]

Does this count?

Thirty years. 




George

[rafant]

Joseph Hoffman's advise was to take a whole month of absolute piano vacations every year. I did it one time, but I kept wanting to play and it was hard to stay away of the piano, so no more voluntary piano vacations. Sometimes I can't play for 2 or 3 consecutive days and when I resume the quality of my playing falls.

[anda]

1st time i quit: 1 year.
2nd time i quit: 2 1/2 years.

[galonia]

I quit, and stopped playing for two years, after playing for 17 years.

and how hard was it for you to get back to where you were?

It took less time than I expected - about four months - but I worked really hard during those months, and every minute of practise time was purposeful.

[paris]

when i was younger, 2 months, because of summer vacation.  but, now i can't allow to me so much time spent away from piano. actually, i don't want to spend time without piano. summer vacation is great because i can practise and play pieces which i want, without any obligations and lessons...just dozing under sun, swimming and playing piano...

[quantum]

Every summer I take some time away from the piano.  I go out in the nice weather and do other things.  I also find fixing broken stuff to be relaxing and meditative.  So, instead of practicing I'll just replace the bathroom faucet and sink. 

Usually in the absence of practice, I get to discover some music that I've never heard before, recordings, going to the library and pulling a random book off the shelf, looking for some good contemporary stuff at the Canadian Music Centre, etc.

I believe that not all practicing involves being physically at the piano.  You can achieve a lot by just using your mind.