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Originally Posted by Tarter_trpt8 Manny,
I've been struggling with "how to practice" and how to stay fresh with practicing a lot. I just don't know how to do it. Manny what do you do that gets you through? Or maybe think about the college days or something.
Jeremy |
I find that when people complain about tiring too quicklyand not getting enough out of practicing, that there are a number of issues at play.
1) A man's got to know his limitations.
A player has to to have a good self-awareness about how much he can take in a given amount of time relative to what he's playing. You have to take stock of what tires you and after how much of it. After you figure that out you have to understand whether your approach is correct for what you're doing. I mean, are you practicing everything at a loud dynamic without being at a developmental place where you can deal with it. Are you playing at a loud dynamic effectively or wasting a lot of effort? When you play softly, are you pinching all the time or doing it breezingly?
You have to be aware of how effective your energy output is relative to the job at hand.
2) Is your musical diet balanced?
Are you someone that practices a lot of slurred things and then expects to have blazing tongue speed? Do you expect to be able to play in the upper register without having a clear idea of what a great upper register sounds like when you are doing your best? I didn't say feel, I said sound. Are you so focused on the methodology that the musical result is taking a backseat? You can't play music with methodology. It must be done with a sound in your head and an insistant brain that is relentless in pursuing that sound on a musical basis.
3)Do you know when to rest?
Resting is a learned technique but it goes back to self-awareness. What do you do when you rest? Nothing? Are you thinking about what the next logical step to improvement is or what? Or are you taking a mental break? When you rest, rest, when you play, play music.
Good luck,
ML