Discussions > Teaching and Learning
Crisis of confidence
Julian S:
I'm sure I'm not alone in this - every so often I think that no matter how much effort I put in to trying to improve my playing, I'm really not getting anywhere. Last night playing in a pub - more of a sing/tune around with some excellent musicians, everything I played didn't really come out well. Maybe it was my choice of tunes - but even sets I'd previously been happy with performing didn't feel ok. Wrong speed, lack of rhythm, fluffed notes...you name it I did it. Bad day at the office, or maybe I need to go back to basics - certainly being without my favourite instrument didn't help. Or should I take a rest from playing for a while ? (difficult given morris dance and band commitments - not forgetting forthcoming weekend events )
Help please... :-[
J
Tone Dumb Greg:
Was there beer involved? I'm not being facetious, here. Even very small amounts of alcohol (a couple of sips) affect my playing, so I don't drink when playing out until dancing is finished and it doesn't matter any more. My friends are well aware of this and think it's funny to get me beers in early on.
I came across a theory years (on The Session) that said you played best in the same state as you practice in. So, if you want to play pissed you have to practice pissed, or, even, very slightly under the effects. It was a proper scientific type theory with papers published and psychology and all sorts, but I can't remember the details, or what it was called.
BJG:
I think this is a familiar experience with every instrument; certainly happens quite regularly to me. One tip I read recently is just to go back to playing something simple that you know you can do well, which sounded sensible. Trust that effortless expertise will come...one day...
Howard Jones:
Informal sessions can be difficult to get psyched up for. They're very different from formal performances, where the very processes of setting up and soundchecking, or just being in front of an expectant audience, help to get you mentally prepared to perform. When you're simply sitting down in a pub after a long day (or perhaps a long week), and perhaps without having given a lot of prior thought about what you might play, it can be very difficult to summon the mental energy to play well.
squeezy:
This is just a completely normal part of playing the melodeon (and I imagine any instrument as well) ... you'll have good days when you surprise yourself, and bad days when your fingers feel like lumps of lead ... trust me, it's more embarrassing when that happens in a concert full of people who have paid for tickets than it is in a session!
As for feeling like you're stuck in a rut and not improving ... the plateau effect is well known in learning instruments too. We go through times when our learning curve is quite steep and then plateau out (which can often feel like getting worse) ... although that is also a natural occurance, you can still make use of it by learning extra repertoire rather than trying to force improved technique. Going back in to the next learning curve is often triggered by finding something completely different to concentrate on, so it's possible to kick-start it by deliberately trying to play music which is from a different tradition or genre which will require different skills. Alternatively, as you say, there is no harm in giving yourself a break from practice for a while, that can also help to give you a new perspective and enthusiasm when you come back to it. Just don't leave it too long ;-)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version