Soooo...less than four weeks until I leave for the Navy! I really cannot believe it is almost here already. When I first found out when my ship date was, I was so depressed, because the month of May felt like an eternity away. But I had a feeling that it would go by fairly fast, and boy it did!
Anyway, since the Ad Hoc concert a couple weeks ago, I have barely touched my instrument. I've kind of lost all motivation when it comes to playing...mostly because I have nothing coming up to practice for. As I have mentioned in previous posts, it helps me to have something coming up to get me in the practice room. Right now I feel like anything I do now is kind of pointless, just because I'm going to have a 8 week hiatus from practicing regularly. I think I'll be able to play in boot camp a little bit - there is a special "performing" division and they play for the graduation ceremony and also for community events. But I've also been told that there is no such thing, so I'm not really sure what to expect. It will sure suck a lot to go 8-9 weeks without playing clarinet.
Despite this, I'm going to try to practice 3 times a week until I leave, at least. Just cuz I like playing, and I might not be able to play for awhile! I'm going to CO next week, and I do plan on bringing my instrument, as futile as it may seem. Haha. We will see if I actually play! Maybe I'll just bring my Bb...
I do have a couple non musical goals for the next four weeks though...well ok, maybe just one. And its pretty dumb, actually. I want to beat Final Fantasy 13! The Easter bunny brought me a shiny new pink PS3 controller, so I was motivated to start playing again. I tried to start it again last night after a 7 month hiatus...and if you know how RPGs are, you probably know that is very difficult. I had no clue what I was doing. So I started over, even though I was almost 60 hours into my last game. And I really don't want to start over again, so I HAVE to finish this time. Even if it means I spend every waking minute playing for the next four weeks. That is OK!
Wow...26 days!
April 26, 2011
April 22, 2011
A couple great articles...
Read this before reading my post...
I recently came across this article and I wanted to share with all my musician friends. I feel like this author nailed it right on the head. So many teachers nowadays focus on getting the student to practice in a quantitative way, instead of a qualitative way. Its fine if you practice six hours, but what was accomplished? That is the question we should be asking ourselves as musicians.
As I recall, back in 2006, right after I graduated from CSU, I was literally practicing 6 hours a day to prepare for my grad school auditions. But I might as well not have practiced at all. Looking back, "practicing" is not the correct word. I would say I "played" 6 hours a day. I had no comprehension of what the word "practice" meant, or how to even practice efficiently/correctly. I wish that this book/website had been in existence back then! It would have saved me a lot of trouble. I was so focused on how much I practiced, but not on how much I got done in that practice session. In essence, I was "mindlessly practicing" for 6 hours per day. And it showed in the end, out of 4 schools I auditioned for, I only was accepted at one. I cried at half of the auditions because I truly realized how underprepared I was! I'm pretty sure the only reason I got accepted at the school I did (DU) is because I had studied with the teacher in the past and she knew me. It was at DU that I learned how to practice well. And only since I've been out of school that I have truly discovered the meaning of efficient practice. Imagine what I could get done if I practiced 4 hours a day now, knowing what I know!!
This article links to another one that also piqued my interest. Performance anxiety is something that I have been fighting with for a long time. If you are familiar with my blog, you know that I tend to sabotage myself 90% of the time during auditions. I hate it, and its so frustrating because I can't seem to shake off my anxiety. I really feel that it has kept me from winning auditions, or at least getting past the prelim round. In all my years, I've never thought of making those nervous feelings into something positive. I've always focused on making them go away, hence transforming those feelings into negative energy. I love the idea of centering, and transitioning thoughts from the left brain to the right brain. Makes so much sense!!
I have to credit howtopractice.com for the link to the first article (which obviously led to the other!). Check out the other links that are posted, they are very informative and interesting!
...30 days! Getting so close!
I recently came across this article and I wanted to share with all my musician friends. I feel like this author nailed it right on the head. So many teachers nowadays focus on getting the student to practice in a quantitative way, instead of a qualitative way. Its fine if you practice six hours, but what was accomplished? That is the question we should be asking ourselves as musicians.
As I recall, back in 2006, right after I graduated from CSU, I was literally practicing 6 hours a day to prepare for my grad school auditions. But I might as well not have practiced at all. Looking back, "practicing" is not the correct word. I would say I "played" 6 hours a day. I had no comprehension of what the word "practice" meant, or how to even practice efficiently/correctly. I wish that this book/website had been in existence back then! It would have saved me a lot of trouble. I was so focused on how much I practiced, but not on how much I got done in that practice session. In essence, I was "mindlessly practicing" for 6 hours per day. And it showed in the end, out of 4 schools I auditioned for, I only was accepted at one. I cried at half of the auditions because I truly realized how underprepared I was! I'm pretty sure the only reason I got accepted at the school I did (DU) is because I had studied with the teacher in the past and she knew me. It was at DU that I learned how to practice well. And only since I've been out of school that I have truly discovered the meaning of efficient practice. Imagine what I could get done if I practiced 4 hours a day now, knowing what I know!!
This article links to another one that also piqued my interest. Performance anxiety is something that I have been fighting with for a long time. If you are familiar with my blog, you know that I tend to sabotage myself 90% of the time during auditions. I hate it, and its so frustrating because I can't seem to shake off my anxiety. I really feel that it has kept me from winning auditions, or at least getting past the prelim round. In all my years, I've never thought of making those nervous feelings into something positive. I've always focused on making them go away, hence transforming those feelings into negative energy. I love the idea of centering, and transitioning thoughts from the left brain to the right brain. Makes so much sense!!
I have to credit howtopractice.com for the link to the first article (which obviously led to the other!). Check out the other links that are posted, they are very informative and interesting!
...30 days! Getting so close!
April 16, 2011
Copland and mental sabotage
Over the past couple weeks I've been preparing for the latest Ad Hoc concert this past Saturday in which I'm played in Copland's The Tenderland Suite. I remember while I was in my undergrad at CSU, the opera department actually did the full production of this opera, and although I did not play in the pit, I remember how much the clarinet player (who was a friend of mine) who did play in the pit bitched about how ridiculous the part was. Um, and rightfully so if its anything like this suite! Most of it is actually pretty easy (minus the double high B that is unison with the flute in the first section!! Ack!), but the "hoe down" section was pretty gnarly if you ask me! Crazy key changes all over the place, fast articulation, and high range really makes me sweat! Luckily, a lot of it was doubled with flute and/or violins so I was able to fake some of it that I just didn't have time to get to tempo.
Whoever had this rental part before me decided to take all of the sections that are high up in the range and bring them down the octave, and proceeded to write it all out and tape it over the printed part. Agh, so annoying! I had to (carefully) rip out all those so that I could play it as written. Yes, it is hard to play as written, but certainly not impossible. Plus, taking certain passages down actually takes away some of the interesting timbres that are created with the flute! For example, there is a passage where the flute and I are in thirds up really high (I'm on a double high written A#/sounding G# and flute is on a double high B) and it gives this crazy shimmer effect that is really awesome. If I take my A# down, that effect is lost. Its pretty clear that Copland knew what he was doing! But I digress...
The concert went really well. Luckily, the space that we performed in is VERY forgiving when it comes to intonation and little blunders. It is a huge church, and the sound bounces around so much before it gets to the audience that most of the little flaws melts away and all you hear is a nice uniform(ish) sound.
Lately I've been trying to practice an hour or two, 3-4 nights a week...which compared to my Eastman days is barely anything! Aaaand this week I haven't practiced at all! But I don't have much motivation for it right now. When I do practice, I'm doing lots of scales and working out of the Rose 32 etude book. Kinda fun revisiting those old gems! They really are timeless. Mostly I've been focusing on not being afraid of fast technical passages...I think it is working! I think I've discovered that my perceived lack of technical ability is really my own brain getting in the way.
Of note in my non-musical life, couple weekends back I participated in my first long distance race, a 15k. It was a beautiful day (well, for Rochester in early April anyway!), the course was super hilly, and I finished with a time of 88 minutes (my goal was 90 minutes). That's a pace of about 9:30 per mile! That is very fast considering I never ran seriously before 10 months ago! It was super hard, but super fun. I think that its easy for musicians to become athletes, and vice versa - we have to have the same determination, focus, and stamina! Whether it be running a race or performing a recital, I feel like it takes the same amount of mental focus. Even though I think I'm much more relaxed when it comes to athletic events because I do them for the fun of it - and I don't really care what the outcome is. *Epiphany* Maybe I should start thinking of playing clarinet "for the fun of it", even though it is my career. It might help me not be so anxious when it comes to high pressure situations.
Meh.
OMG 36 days!
Whoever had this rental part before me decided to take all of the sections that are high up in the range and bring them down the octave, and proceeded to write it all out and tape it over the printed part. Agh, so annoying! I had to (carefully) rip out all those so that I could play it as written. Yes, it is hard to play as written, but certainly not impossible. Plus, taking certain passages down actually takes away some of the interesting timbres that are created with the flute! For example, there is a passage where the flute and I are in thirds up really high (I'm on a double high written A#/sounding G# and flute is on a double high B) and it gives this crazy shimmer effect that is really awesome. If I take my A# down, that effect is lost. Its pretty clear that Copland knew what he was doing! But I digress...
The concert went really well. Luckily, the space that we performed in is VERY forgiving when it comes to intonation and little blunders. It is a huge church, and the sound bounces around so much before it gets to the audience that most of the little flaws melts away and all you hear is a nice uniform(ish) sound.
Lately I've been trying to practice an hour or two, 3-4 nights a week...which compared to my Eastman days is barely anything! Aaaand this week I haven't practiced at all! But I don't have much motivation for it right now. When I do practice, I'm doing lots of scales and working out of the Rose 32 etude book. Kinda fun revisiting those old gems! They really are timeless. Mostly I've been focusing on not being afraid of fast technical passages...I think it is working! I think I've discovered that my perceived lack of technical ability is really my own brain getting in the way.
 |
| I'm in the purple shirt (#192) |
Of note in my non-musical life, couple weekends back I participated in my first long distance race, a 15k. It was a beautiful day (well, for Rochester in early April anyway!), the course was super hilly, and I finished with a time of 88 minutes (my goal was 90 minutes). That's a pace of about 9:30 per mile! That is very fast considering I never ran seriously before 10 months ago! It was super hard, but super fun. I think that its easy for musicians to become athletes, and vice versa - we have to have the same determination, focus, and stamina! Whether it be running a race or performing a recital, I feel like it takes the same amount of mental focus. Even though I think I'm much more relaxed when it comes to athletic events because I do them for the fun of it - and I don't really care what the outcome is. *Epiphany* Maybe I should start thinking of playing clarinet "for the fun of it", even though it is my career. It might help me not be so anxious when it comes to high pressure situations.
Meh.
OMG 36 days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)